Toumaz Technology Successfully Delivers Technology Platform for DIAdvisor Project

Monday, 11 May 2009

DIAdvisorTM is a large-scale integrating project (IP) aiming at the development of a prediction-based tool which uses past and easily available information to optimise the therapy of type I and developed type II diabetes. DIAdvisor will allow patients to actively and accurately predict their short-term blood glucose outlook at any time by analysing data retrieved from glucose measurements, insulin delivery data and specific patient parameters. The key data, captured by non-intrusive body-worn wireless monitors including those based on Toumaz Technology's breakthrough Sensium™ platform, will be used to create physiological mathematical modelling, control and prediction algorithms. The resulting analysis and prediction information will be wirelessly transmitted to a healthcare provider advisory service, with recommended action and treatment advice presented to the patient via a handheld mobile device such as a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

The first year of the project oversaw the implementation of a large-scale data-acquisition clinical trial involving 90 patients across three sites in Europe; France, Italy and Czech Republic. As leaders of Workpackage 4, Toumaz Technology is responsible for the device platform development, including hardware, software and sensors and has ensured the successful and timely delivery of this device platform in the first year of the project.

The collaborative DIAdvisor project received a 7.1 million European Community Grant in April 2008 and the large-scale four year research and development project is being coordinated by Novo Nordisk A/S, a world leader in diabetes care. It will be delivered by a consortium of 13 medical, industrial and academic partners, including the European Division of the International Diabetes Federation.

The DIAdvisorTM project consortium recently held its second General Assembly (GA2), to review progress at end of the first year of the project. The GA2 meeting was hosted by consortium members Toumaz Technology at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London.

Dr Alison Burdett, Director of Technology for Toumaz Technology commented: "The development of the DIAdvisorTM personal blood glucose predictor and treatment advisor has the potential to revolutionise the therapy of millions of diabetes sufferers in Europe and worldwide, minimising the occurrence of diabetic complications and reducing healthcare costs. The research and development carried out by all partners during the first year of the DIAdvisor programme brings this worthwhile goal one step closer."

Professor Christofer Toumazou, chairman of Toumaz Holdings, commented: "Our increasingly sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits have led to the incidence of diabetes approaching epidemic proportions. Our Sensium™ technology is proving core in the deployment of a commercial solution to produce a successful personal continuous predictable monitor that will help transform the lives for diabetes sufferers. In addition, our collaborative and working relationships with leaders in the diabetes treatment market such as Novo Nordisk, will enable Toumaz Holdings to continue to build its presence in this expanding market."

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About Toumaz Technology
Toumaz Technology Limited is the leading provider of ultra-low power wireless infrastructure for body monitoring solutions. Toumaz's ultra low-power smart sensor interface and transceiver platform - the Sensium™ - enables non-intrusive, real-time wireless monitoring of multiple vital signs for a wide range of healthcare and lifestyle management applications.

Based on Toumaz's patented ultra-low power Advanced Mixed Signal (AMx) technology, the Sensium™ provides the enabling technology to connect the mobile individual to healthcare providers - simply, affordably and unobtrusively.

For healthcare professionals, this transforms the possibilities for pro-active monitoring and improved quality of care. For patients, it delivers new opportunities for lifestyle-compatible, personalised healthcare, as well as better therapeutic outcomes.