A project based in the Ile-de-France region has brought together clinical practices, the latest educational techniques and cutting-edge technologies to help people manage type two diabetes. Mellisim is designing and testing a new biosensor and a smartphone app to provide comprehensive support to patients in their everyday lives. At the same time, a cognitive behavioural approach delivered through a virtual coaching platform is used to motivate patients to make healthy decisions.
French researchers combine technology and coaching to help diabetes patients
- 05 April 2020
European support is mandatory to allow the rise of innovative technologies that can benefit patients and ignite business emergence.
Mellisim is developing an affordable glucose monitoring sensor and physical activity tracker that can provide data continuously. This allows patients to understand their status and suggest changes in treatments and step-by-step lifestyle improvements. Because health information can be automatically analysed, the project helps to overcome a shortage of medical staff and provides the patient with access to excellent healthcare support – anytime and anywhere.
Successful prototype
The biosensor prototype has worked well in a laboratory environment, and the project team is working towards obtaining a CE mark for the device. The next step is to establish manufacturing capabilities for the sensor and to industrialise the required software.
The project is also developing an app to complement the biosensor. The app provides users with an analysis of their current condition as well as lifestyle guidance and coaching tips. The project team has established the IT system to run the app and is validating its functionality with clinical partners.
The first clinical trials of the Mellisim approach and technologies are taking place in the Paris region. Other regions will follow. The preliminary results are reported to be encouraging. Clinical centres in France, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Canada are confident that the project’s outputs will have a positive impact on patients with type two diabetes.
Commercial growth
ValoTec, the company behind the project, has already grown as a result of its activities, expanding from 12 employees in 2015 to around 30 at the end of 2019. Full commercialisation of the project innovations should also deliver a jobs boost. A manufacturing subsidiary established to produce the biosensor and deliver support services is expected to employ more than 400 people by 2027.
In addition to funding from the ERDF, other investments from ValoTec and grants from European (ECSEL EnSO H2020) and French sources (PSPC Mellidem) have been received, worth up to EUR 3.5 million by the end of 2019.
Total investment and EU funding
Total investment for the project “Mellisim and Mellisense” is EUR 856 265, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 401 707 through the “Île-de-France” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “Research and innovation”.