The ‘WOMEN-UP’ project by BIOART has been awarded as the Best Patent in the Research Valorisation field. Also, the project “Technology for the improvement of inclusion and quality of life of people with neuromuscular diseases” from the BIOMEC research group has been awarded as best project for Inclusion. Finally, in the category of best company, the spin-off  ‘ABLE Human Motion’ has received a special mention. 

The project WOMEN-UP (method with biofeedback for training muscles of the pelvic floor) has received the Research Valorisation Award in the best patent category. WOMEN-UP has been developed by CREB researchers Miguel Angel Mañanas, from the BIOsignal Analysis for Rehabilitation and Therapy (BIOART) research group, and Juan José Ramos, from the Electronic and Biomedical Instrumentation (IEB) research group. Dr. Montserrat Espuña and Dr. Amelia Pérez from the Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Hospital Clínic have been involved in the project development as well. The patent consists of a device to train the pelvic floor muscles and prevent urinary incontinence. It is a competitive, unique and marketable medical product that allows you to monitor remote medical treatment and supervision.

In the field of Inclusion the jury highlighted the contribution of the project “Technology for the improvement of inclusion and quality of life of people with neuromuscular diseases“, carried out by the CREB group BIOMEC in collaboration with relevant clinical centers such as the Guttmann Institute, the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu or the Heidelberg University Hospital, also with patient associations, such as the Duchenne Parent Project, and with several universities. The project core is based on the development of mathematical and computational methods for the analysis and dynamic simulation of human movement, using neuro-musculoskeletal models of the human body. To address this mission, it is first necessary to detect unmet clinical needs, and to define research projects that will allow to create the first technological developments and generate scientific evidence of their practical utility.

Last but not least, ABLE Human Motion received a Special Mention in the category of best technology-based company. ABLE is a CREB spin-off co-founded in October 2018 by researcher Josep Maria Font, director of the Biomechanical Engineering Laboratory (BIOMEC). The company focuses on the development and marketing of the lightest and most affordable robotic exoskeletons on the market to provide better mobility and greater independence for people in wheelchairs. The jury assessed that “it is a young spin-off with great potential, with an innovative product in the world of neurorehabilitation, and with a high social and economic impact”.

Congratulations to all the colleagues who work so enthusiastically in these teams!