Philadelphia-based clinical-trial data expert Clario is working with the University of Oxford’s NeuroMetrology Lab in the UK to transform Parkinson’s disease research with its Opal wearable sensor system.

The partnership aims to advance clinical trial endpoints by improving identification of disease progression and movement-based endpoints. Digital endpoints of gait and balance combined with machine learning can enable earlier detection of motor symptom progression.

The Opal sensors can predict the risk of falls in Parkinson’s patients with up to 92% accuracy two years in advance and 78% accuracy five years in advance.

Clario provides endpoint data technology for clinical trials. It has enrolled the first participant in its collaboration with the NeuroMetrology Lab, led by Chrystalina Antoniades. The partnership is focused on advancing the use of Clario’s Opal wearable sensor system to enhance Parkinson’s disease (PD) research by enabling more precise measurement of motor symptoms and disease progression.

The Opal wearable sensor collects detailed, objective movement data through single- or multi-sensor setups, enabling the detection of subtle but meaningful changes in gait, balance and mobility with a level of precision that is said to surpass traditional assessment methods.

The NeuroMetrology Lab’s work, powered by Opal’s movement analysis capabilities, improves monitoring of disease progression and predicts adverse events such as falls, which represent a significant cause of disability and reduced quality of life in PD patients.

Findings from Antoniades’ team demonstrate the potential of movement analysis in PD research and pave the way for predictive and preventive healthcare. In a recent study, a three-minute in-office assessment predicted fall risk for Parkinson’s patients with 84 to 92% accuracy up to two years in advance and 78% accuracy up to five years in advance. These predictive capabilities may change how the disease is managed and provide greater opportunity to evaluate therapeutic efficacy in clinical studies.

“Our collaboration with Professor Antoniades and her team is an exciting step forward in Parkinson’s research,” said Ellen Street, executive vice president at Clario. “The team’s research combined with the unique capabilities of the Opal device can improve monitoring of disease progression and enable a greater ability to understand the effect of a drug candidate in Parkinson’s patients. It perfectly embodies Clario’s mission to transform lives by unlocking better evidence.”

Antoniades added: “We are excited to partner with Clario to enhance Parkinson’s research using Opal’s advanced movement analysis. This collaboration will refine predictive models for fall risk and disease progression, improving patient outcomes. There is a crucial need for regulatory-approved digital movement endpoints in clinical trials to assess Parkinson’s therapies accurately. Integrating validated, objective measures into drug development will enable precise evaluation and accelerate optimised treatments for patients.”

This phase of the collaboration will determine the usability and effectiveness of Opal data collected in remote settings via prescribed tasks in the home and real-world passive mobility monitoring, powered by Mobilise-D digital mobility outcomes that Clario now offers.

For more than 50 years, Clario (clario.com) has delivered scientific expertise and broad endpoint technologies to help transform lives around the world. Its endpoint data technology has supported over 30,000 clinical trial opportunities in more than 100 countries. Its global team of science, technology and operational experts have supported over 70% of FDA and EMA drug approvals since 2015.

The NeuroMetrology Lab at the University of Oxford (www.oxquip.co.uk) develops objective, quantitative tools to measure neurological function. By combining sensor technology, neurophysiology and clinical neuroscience, the lab aims to improve the detection, monitoring and treatment of movement disorders such as PD. Its interdisciplinary approach bridges academic research, clinical practice and industry collaboration to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world patient benefit.