Posted: 17 February 2025
At the Bionics Institute, we are committed to pushing the boundaries of medical research to address the most pressing and overlooked health challenges.
One such challenge are the cerebellar ataxias, a devastating group of over 100 genetic disorders, which disproportionately affect Indigenous Australians living in remote communities. Under the leadership of Associate Professor David Szmulewicz, our researchers are determined to bring hope and innovative solutions to those who need them most.
A yet-to-be-quantified public health emergency
Cerebellar ataxias are progressive conditions that impair coordination, balance, vision, speech, and swallow.
For those afflicted, the impact is profound: many become wheelchair-bound, lose the ability to communicate effectively, and require assistance to eat and drink.
Tragically, most patients with cerebellar ataxias die prematurely from a range of complications including choking and severe pneumonia related to swallowing difficulties, as well as the complications of falls.
The prevalence of cerebellar ataxias among remote Indigenous populations is staggering.
In East Arnhem Land communities, it is estimated that the most common form of this condition can occur up to times 180 more frequently than worldwide.
This disparity is compounded by limited access to specialist medical care and diagnostic services.
Many affected individuals remain undiagnosed and untreated, further exacerbating health inequities and leading to lifelong disabilities that could have been mitigate with early intervention.
Pioneering solutions with cutting-edge technology
Associate Professor Szmulewicz and his team are developing a groundbreaking diagnostic platform that utilises wearable sensors and artificial intelligence to diagnose and accurately measure the progression of ataxia.
This innovative approach allows clinicians to assess the condition in real-world scenarios, such as during walking, sitting, eating and drinking.
What difference could it make?
The devastating symptoms of Alzheimer’s create significant impacts, not just for those with the disease, but also for their families and the surrounding community.
Currently, there are no truly effective treatments to pause or reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease.
Our treatment could enable people with Alzheimer’s to enjoy more time with family, live independently for longer, participate socially, and remain engaged in the workforce
to a greater extent.
It also enables families and carers to have relief from the emotional distress of caring for someone with the disease, remain working, spend more quality time with their loved ones, and know loved ones with Alzheimer’s are safer.
“We have developed a medical device platform that can objectively measure the hallmarks of ataxia such as imbalance and incoordination and can be used by GPs, physiotherapists and nurses in remote communities.Associate” – Professor David Szmulewicz
What our researchers aim to achieve
Accurate measurement is a crucial step in understanding these debilitating disorders and monitoring their progression.
It also paves the way for developing new, effective treatments and ensuring that patients receive the best care available.
Prototype devices have returned favourable results in early trials and our ultimate goal is to eliminate barriers to health care access, empowering individuals with ataxia to lead fuller, more independent lives.
