Digital healthcare firm Intelesant to help stroke survivors with £27k research grant

Intelesant, a digital healthcare company based in Manchester, plans to carry out new research using its home monitoring software Howz after securing a five-figure grant from the Greater Manchester Academic Health Science Network (GM AHSN).

The cash boost of just under £27k will allow the firm to team up with Sarah Tyson, a professor of rehabilitation at the University of Manchester, and undertake an eight-month study to determine the feasibility of using the Howz app in helping people affected by strokes.

Intelesant, which is based in The Sharp Project, will work to determine whether or not its Howz software can be used to reduce isolation and slash the risk of physical decline in stroke survivors.

Intelesant’s Howz system works by tracking heat, light and movement in a home to understand an individual’s routine and allow care networks to identify any abnormalities.

The company’s CEO, Jonathan Burr, said the grant represents “a fantastic opportunity” for the Howz system.

He said: “We are looking forward to working closely with University of Manchester and the GM AHSN to deliver results which could make a significant difference to people living alone with long term conditions in the region.”

As part of the research, the team will ask people who have suffered a stroke and live alone in Greater Manchester to participate from July.

Commenting on the collaboration with Intelesant, the University of Manchester’s Sarah Tyson said: “Social isolation and physical frailty are such big problems for people with stroke, as it often limits people’s mobility, concentration and energy levels so it is difficult to get ‘out and about’ and maintain usual activities.

“Howz has great potential to make it easier to keep in touch with the outside world and to monitor activity, so potential problems can be spotted and dealt with earlier.”

The grant was awarded through GM AHSN’s Technology Innovation Challenge Award.

GM AHSN’s director of industry and wealth, Linda Magee, commented: “Our Technology Innovation Challenge awards are aimed at supporting early stage projects to develop innovations supported by partnerships between academia, the NHS and social care and industry that are of benefit to our citizens in Greater Manchester.

“Our review panel was impressed by the both by quality of the project supporting stroke patients, a priority area for us, and the partners including Intelesant’s track record of working with the NHS and Social Services in the region.”