Fight the Stroke

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Fight the Stroke: Mirrorable

Milan, Italy
Year Founded:
2014
Organization type: 
hybrid
Project Stage:
Start-Up
Budget: 
$250,000 - $500,000
Website:
http://WWW.FIGHTTHESTROKE.ORG
Twitter: 
@FIGHTTHESTROKE
Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/fightthestroke
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Project Summary
Elevator Pitch

Concise Summary: Help us pitch this solution! Provide an explanation within 3-4 short sentences.

Although stroke is perceived as occurring primarily among the elderly, it also strikes infants. FIGHTTHESTROKE has applied some of the most pioneering research on the human brain to improve care for young stroke victims using technology while empowering families.

WHAT IF - Inspiration: Write one sentence that describes a way that your project dares to ask, "WHAT IF?"

WHAT IF 2M CHILDREN IN THE WORLD COULD LIVE A BETTER LIFE AND REGAIN MOVEMENT AFTER HAVING SURVIVED A STROKE?
About Project

Problem: What problem is this project trying to address?

Blood must flow to and through the brain for it to function; if the flow is obstructed then the brain loses its energy supply, causing permanent damage to tissues, leading to stroke. The consequences are motor, cognitive and behavioral problems, when the stroke happens at early stage of life, leading to long term disabilities.

Solution: What is the proposed solution? Please be specific!

Issues as early diagnosis, rehabilitation and parental involvement can be solved with a toolkit for dynamic rehabilitation exercises for children. This new toolkit would allow peer-to-peer learning that is promising to be even more effective than parent-to-child learning. By allowing rehabilitation to be moved out of hospitals and into the hands of households and families, hospitals can be alleviated from in-house therapies, parents can be empowered and children could recover faster. This method would also allow the collection of big data for future research and be applicable to other forms of rehabilitation from different types of traumas ad motor disabilities.

Awards

MICROSOFT GLOBAL ABILITY AWARD 2015; EISENHOWER FELLOWSHIP ON INNOVATION 2014; ASHOKA FELLOWSHIP 2015
Impact: How does it Work

Example: Walk us through a specific example(s) of how this solution makes a difference; include its primary activities.

Francesca has designed a rehabilitation toolkit which marries technological games and tools with face-to-face home rehabilitation. By applying the latest scientific findings on the brain cells responsible for imitation and empathy (known as mirror neurons) she created a wholly new approach to rehabilitation using wireless videogame technology (based on the Kinect system). Children get better while playing games, and crucially, the software collects data on each body movement, proposing an ad hoc rehabilitation based on each child’s progress. The collection of data in the long run could also provide a scientific foundation to better understand child stroke and improve its cure, and create a new, integrated model of illness care.

Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Also describe the projected future impact for the coming years.

Francesca began her work in Italy, but after a fellowship in the United States, she is mobilizing an increasing international community of parents to raise awareness on the issue and connect them to the scientific and medical sector. FTS has increased its scope internationally with more than 800 families engaged through the International Alliance for Pediatric Stroke and the first advocacy and support group in Italy, reaching today 200 parents.

Spread Strategies: Moving forward, what are the main strategies for scaling impact?

2 M OF YOUNG PEOPLE WORLDWIDE ARE IMPACTED BY A STROKE EVERY YEAR, BUT THE PROPOSED SOLUTION COULD BE EFFICIENT ALSO FOR ADULT STROKE SURVIVORS (20M) AND PARKINSON’S ONES (7M).
Sustainability

Financial Sustainability Plan: What is this solution’s plan to ensure financial sustainability?

CROSS SUBSIDY MODEL (DIRECT SALES CHANNEL AND CHARGE INSURANCE FEES TO ORTHOPEDIC PATIENTS IN ORDER TO SUPPORT KIDS DISTRIBUTION FOR FREE)

Marketplace: Who else is addressing the problem outlined here? How does the proposed project differ from these approaches?

CURRENT SOLUTIONS ARE MORE ON THE TELEMEDICINE OR VIRTUAL GAMES APPROACH, WITHOUT ANY CERTIFED SCIENTIFIC OUTCOME.
Team

Founding Story

Please view the founders' inspiring TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/roberto_d_angelo_francesca_fedeli_in_our_baby_s_illness_a_life_lesson#

Team

FOUNDER: FRANCESCA FEDELI CO-FOUNDER: ROBERTO D’ANGELO + A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS DEVELOPING THE TECHNICAL DEVICE +LUCA CARUSO (BI EMPLOYEE)
CO-CREATION IDEA: Please offer a brief description of how you imagine a win-win partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim to better serve unmet needs in health. (Hint: Please mention the underlying business model envisioned that would make such a partnership sustainable.)

Thinking about BI strength on acute care for stroke, together with Luca Caruso, we identified a potential partnership in using the Mirrorable solution for adult stroke survivors. Indeed, selling through BI distribution channels a Pill-Plus solution (drugs + rehab platform) could lead to incremental market effects, as better compliance and engagement of the patients, longer retentions and brand bondage within BI, better motor outcomes for the patient and lower costs for healthcare providers. The business model: Subscription Model, the patient (out-of-pocket or via health insurance) will pay a fee to access the platform and run the rehab exercises. FTS and BI will share the revenue incoming from the direct sales of the access to the solution.

NEEDS: Based on you response above, please specify which of the following resources, operations or expertise by Boehringer Ingelheim you imagine leveraging to actualize the proposed co-creation opportunity. Please check all that apply. (Hint: while financing is often critical to scale, we are also interested in understanding what other assets or expertise could be leveraged).

Distribution Channels, Research and Development, Specific Disease Expertise, Relationships/New Contacts, Marketing/Communications Support, Access to Capital.

EXPLANATION OF NEEDS: Please explain your choices in more detail.

It is a global project that involves BI employees, starting from Luca Caruso, Global Medicine Project Coordinator and Innovation Lead. This solution could allow BI to retain stroke patients for a longer term and to provide them with an end to end solution. Data gathering, therapy compliance and customer retention/satisfaction are the main drivers.
Market size and potential social impact: 20M of people every year suffer of a stroke, of which 6M dies for it and the rest are left with permanent disabilities.

OFFER: What are the main assets you may contribute in a co-creation partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim that would better serve unmet needs in health?

Deep understanding of an unmet need in a specific market/context, Access to and established trust with customers/beneficiaries, Insights into marketing, Insights into behavior change.

FOCUS AREAS: Which of the following best describes the main focus of your project? (select all that apply)

Improving the affordability of healthcare (e.g., microinsurance, reducing the economic cost of care), Holistic solutions that work across the entire care continuum (including education, prevention, detection, treatment, management, follow-up), Remote care solutions for health management, treatment, and diagnosis.

SECONDARY ENTRY FORM
Please share what your organisation and Boehringer Ingelheim will Co-Create together

Thinking about BI strength on acute care for stroke, together with Luca Caruso, we identified a potential partnership in using the Mirrorable solution for adult stroke survivors. Indeed, selling through BI distribution channels a Pill-Plus solution (drugs + rehab platform) could lead to incremental market effects, as better compliance and engagement of the patients, longer retentions and brand bondage within BI, better motor outcomes for the patient and lower costs for healthcare providers. The business model: Subscription Model, the patient (out-of-pocket or via health insurance) will pay a fee to access the platform and run the rehab exercises. FTS and BI will share the revenue incoming from the direct sales of the access to the solution. We could identify also different price points for different payers, while BI could act as the customer paying for the model and then provide access to subscribers (Doctors, patients, medical institutions).

Please specify what your Co-Creation will result in:

a new product, a new market/customer group.

If you selected "other" above, please explain:
Please provide a 1-2 sentence summary of your Co-Creation idea

We could use the Mirrorable solution, already developed for young stroke survivors, for adult stroke patients too. Indeed, selling through BI distribution channels a Pill-Plus solution (drugs + rehab platform) to these patients, could lead to incremental market effects, as better compliance and engagement of the patients, longer retentions and brand bondage within BI, better motor outcomes for the patients and lower costs for healthcare providers.

How does this project link to the core mission of your organisation?

- It provides a revenue base that could be re-invested into services for children
- Knowledge and learning opportunities that can influence therapies used by fight the stroke (same disease, different population = potential for new knowledge to feedback into fightthestroke core mission/values)

Beyond social impact, how does this project link to Boehringer Ingelheim’s core business?

- Cardiovascular diseases are a current priority for BI globally. Stroke as a business focus is very relevant to this.
- This co-creation presents a new and larger product proposition for current and prospective BI patient groups.

What are the specific inputs and actions that each side will contribute to this Co-Creation idea based on each of your unique competencies and experiences?

My organization will contribute:
- The platform infrastructure
- Scientific knowledge on Mirror Neurons and Action Observation Therapy, besides the technology
- Proof of concept through Fight the Stroke past activities
- Communication / Publicity and direct connections to relevant global community

Boehringer Ingelheim will contribute:
- Scientific Knowledge about Adult Stroke patients
- Knowledge of Market strategies
- Business modelling experience – market solutions
- Distribution channels

Please describe the potential revenue model for this Co-Creation idea.

- Sales to patients who will pay out of pocket
- Subscription scheme with BI as the provider
- Insurance
- Regional pay (fee for service from government bodies)

What possible risks or challenges do you foresee?

- Competition ( there are other players in the market looking at similar models, even if based on different technology, ie artificial intelligence)
- Time constraints (buy in for changing versus different market priorities)
- Financial Constraints – more financial resources (beyond challenge prize) would need to be mobilized/secured in order to realize pilot
- Research – prototyping the new product and then testing with clinical trials to validate effectiveness

Is there anything else you would like to share about your Co-Creation idea?

NA

How much input do you hope to receive from Boehringer Ingelheim?

I’d like to implement together.

If you selected "other" above, please explain:
Besides Boehringer Ingelheim, what other types of partners might be valuable to carrying out your Co-Creation idea, and why?

NA

Comments

Physiotherapy has particular value in the first few weeks after stroke to relieve spasticity, prevent contractures and teach patients to use walking aids. The benefits of physiotherapy for longer-term outcome are still inadequately researched. Baclofen and/or botulinum toxin are sometimes helpful in the management of severe spasticity.
Speech and language therapists have a vital understanding of aphasic patients’ problems and frustration. Return of speech is hastened by conversation generally. If swallowing is unsafe because of the risk of aspiration, either nasogastric feeding or percutaneous gastrostomy will be needed. Video-fluoroscopy while attempting to swallow is helpful.
Physiotherapy, occupational and speech therapy have a vital role in assessing and facilitating the future care pathway. Stroke is frequently devastating and, particularly during working life, alters radically the patient’s remaining years. Many become unemployable, lose independence and are financially embarrassed. Loss of self-esteem makes depression common.
At home, aids and alterations may be needed: stair and bath rails, portable lavatories, hoists, sliding boards, wheelchairs, tripods, stair lifts, electric blinds and modified sleeping arrangements, kitchen, steps, flooring and doorways. Liaison between hospital-based and community care teams, and primary care physician is essential.

The most incredible strength that I see in your Project it your unique personal experience. Very important to address the families that deal on the everyday basis with these type of patients. Besides the patients involved, like this beeautiful child, Mario, the ones careing for these patients do not have the patience, hope, percevierence. Your story of love and dedication to the task, acceptance of the change in your lives is very powerful and hopeful. Not many people have the courage and means to face a situation like Marios case. Ihope you recibe all the support needed so the forcé of your testimony can inspire many caretakers, families and patients. Congratulations...