Health Issue? There’s an App for That

Imagine stroke patients being able to do rehab at home with the help of an app. That is just one of 95 projects supported through $2.9 million in grants from the Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation.

Acadia University researcher Anne Sophie Champod is receiving $148,000 for her post-stroke recovery and rehabilitation project. Her research team is exploring an interactive iPad application to treat a common syndrome that makes simple tasks difficult for many stroke patients. With the app, patients could do rehab at home, with the results sent directly to their clinicians.

"This funding has enabled me to form a collaborative research team and build partnerships with two Nova Scotian companies to develop the app and design the required goggles worn during the treatment," said Champod. "This research could make a huge difference to people living with this debilitating condition."

"We have many creative researchers working to make our health- care system better for this generation and those to come," said Health and Wellness Minister Leo Glavine. "We are committed to supporting a thriving research community, and I commend these exceptional researchers who are being recognized for their ideas and hard work."

This year, 63 awards are going to students in health research at universities, supporting the development of the next generation of researchers. Funding is also going to Saint Mary's University for its masters in applied health services research program.

"Research funding is only one aspect of the work we do," said Krista Connell, chief executive officer of the foundation. "The training and support we provide is ensuring researchers have the tools they need to improve the health of Nova Scotians."

For more information on the projects, visit www.nshrf.ca/funded.