BrainApp
Research type
Research Study
Full title
BrainApp: Feasibility, acceptability and relationship to standard measures of near-patient sensing through a mobile app and machine learning - an observational non-randomised phase II trial in patients with primary brain tumours
IRAS ID
295289
Contact name
Matthew Williams
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 4 months, 31 days
Research summary
Brain tumours are the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 40. Even with specialist treatment, brain tumours usually grow and lead to death. Detecting this growth is currently done through scans (CT and MRI). However, these scans are time-consuming, expensive, and may not always give clear answers.
Many patients in whom the tumour grows, will develop new symptoms, such as weakness down one side, speech, thinking or language problems. Computer-based analyses of speech, motion and visual features have been shown to differentiate between healthy individuals and those with other brain diseases (e.g. dementia). The increased use of “smartphones” and electronic tablets means that most adults now carry a device that can measure data on speech, movement, and balance captured via “apps” which people download onto their device. The Brain Tumour Charity (BTC) has designed and released a free app (BRIAN) that allows users to enter information on their background, diagnosis, treatment and quality of life (QOL), as well as perform mini-games that test co-ordination, memory, changes in facial features and speech.
This study explores the feasibility and acceptability of using the BRIAN app in this population, and the relationship between the measures captured in BRIAN with conventional measures of QOL and disease progression. We hope that this will, in the future, allow us to detect disease progression earlier, using an app at home.
REC name
South West - Cornwall & Plymouth Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SW/0104
Date of REC Opinion
21 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion