20 May 2020

We’re delighted to announce that we have been awarded £50,000 from Innovate UK to develop an app to support the epilepsy community during the COVID-19 crisis.

This funding will allow us to develop a smartphone app, ConnectEP. The app will improve connectivity between people with epilepsy, researchers and clinicians and reduce the impact of stress, anxiety and isolation experienced as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Our project was one of just over 700 selected by Innovate UK from over 8,600 applications, allowing us to access funding from the government intended to support innovation from the UK’s start-up community in developing innovative solutions to support the country during COVID19.

Following this announcement, our co-founder Professor John Terry commented:

“We surveyed 150 people as part of the development for this app and found that people with epilepsy are experiencing increased levels of anxiety during this pandemic. Their appointments are being postponed and the resulting stress exacerbates the symptoms of epilepsy, impacting not only seizures, but other issues including memory and sleep.

“We are developing ConnectEP in partnership with people with epilepsy, ensuring it meets their needs, which are evolving rapidly as the current situation continues.”

Public Advocate for Epilepsy, Torie Robinson commented:

“I’m really chuffed to have helped enable so many people who need our app to have had their voices heard and valued at Neuronostics. Having epilepsy can be very isolating, anxiety-inducing and depressing on its own, but now with COVID-19 causing reduced access to certain services for some in addition; the lives of many affected are even more challenging. There’s a desperate need for the ConnectEP app and I can’t wait for our project to start.”

We are keen to continue developing this app together with the wider epilepsy community.  If you would like to become involved, please follow our news on twitter, and facebook or get in touch via info@neuronostics.com