What is the name of your organization?
PragmaClin® Research Inc.
What is the name of your solution?
The PRIMS® Movement
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
PRIMS®, a scalable AI powered movement disorder assessment tool that brings a neurologist to every community.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
St. John's, NL, Canada
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Canada
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Due to an aging demographic and lack of resources, developing countries are falling behind with the necessary requirements to meet the needs of people with PD. This presents a very real public health crisis that places a significant burden on already over-stretched global healthcare systems. In developed countries, Canada has one of the highest prevalence rates. Many Canadians, especially in rural areas and Atlantic Canada, face long wait times for diagnosis and treatment due to a shortage of Movement Disorder Specialists (MDS). In the U.S., one million people have PD served by only 660 MDSs with just six in rural areas. Many patients rely on primary care providers, leading to disparities in care access, particularly for women, people of color, and rural residents. Up to forty-one percent of Medicare PD patients never see a specialist. Each year, 90,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD, yet many navigate the disease alone. Early diagnosis and access to PD-trained professionals are crucial for a better quality of life. PragmaClin®'s assessment tool, PRIMS®, directly addresses access, equality, diagnosis and assessment issues and is a truly effective, globally relevant solution to the problem.
What is your solution?
PRIMS® (Parkinson’s Remote Interactive Management System) is a digital assessment tool that leverages depth cameras and AI to provide objective, standardized, and real-time evaluations of PD symptoms. Unlike traditional subjective clinical assessments performed once or twice a year that depend on the specialist's experience and expertise, PRIMS® offers more frequent monitoring and accurate, real-time scoring, ensuring timely and relevant information for clinicians and People with Parkinson's (PwP) to effectively manage the disease. Designed for versatility and ease of use, PRIMS® integrates motor function tests performed in a clinic based on widely accepted international rating standards with home-reported surveys via a mobile app, offering a holistic view of disease progression. The portable hardware for motor data capture integrates seamlessly into any healthcare setting, from primary care offices and physiotherapy clinics to hospitals. Secure cloud storage and separate portals allow clinicians and patients to track symptom trends over time. By eliminating subjectivity, reducing assessment time by 15-18 minutes, and expanding access to care, PRIMS® is not just an innovation; it’s a paradigm shift in Parkinson’s management, empowering clinicians and patients with the data-driven insights essential for fine-tuning individual treatments and enhancing the quality of life for PwP.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Canada’s senior population is growing rapidly and will make up nearly a quarter of the population by 2040, with rural regions, particularly in Atlantic Canada and the North, having significant senior populations. As Parkinson’s prevalence rises, many seniors, especially in rural areas, will struggle to access neurologists and Movement Disorder Specialists due to geographic and financial barriers. Social isolation, financial constraints, and the need for culturally appropriate healthcare further complicate access to care. More seniors will require long-term care, highlighting the need for improved PD-specific support. PragmaClin® addresses these challenges by targeting PwP in rural Atlantic Canada, where PD care is often inadequate or unavailable. The focus is on underserved groups, including women and Indigenous peoples, who lack equal access to treatment. By collaborating with primary care providers, physiotherapists, and urban neurologists, PragmaClin® will implement a hub-and-spoke care model. Non-specialists in rural clinics will assess PwP using PRIMS®, with data securely accessed by urban neurologists, who will conduct virtual consultations and provide treatment recommendations based on accurate motor data. Given Canada’s publicly funded healthcare system, this model is practical and ensures PwP receives coordinated care from local providers and specialists.
