PragmaClin develops camera-based Parkinson’s assessments
PragmaClin’s PRIMS system is designed to capture a person’s movements with depth cameras and turn them into information for clinicians assessing Parkinson’s disease. The company joined the Emergence bioscience incubator in February 2024, gaining access to a program that offers mentorship and business advice. A system that produces structured measurements could give clinicians another way to review movement symptoms, provided its assessments are useful in practice.
From movement to a clinician’s assessment
PRIMS combines camera-based data collection with software that analyzes movement and makes assessment information available through a clinician portal. It is intended to support neurologists rather than replace their role in care.
Parkinson’s assessments commonly use a clinical scale that includes both movement and other symptoms. Some elements depend on a clinician observing and rating a patient. PragmaClin’s approach is to translate captured movement into structured scores that can be reviewed alongside clinical judgment.
The company was founded by Bronwyn Bridges, now its CEO, and Gord Genge. Genge is no longer involved in daily operations.
Testing the scores and the experience
PragmaClin asks research partners to recruit participants and have qualified professionals provide blinded ratings of assessment videos. Those ratings can be used to develop the scoring algorithms or compared with PRIMS scores in validation studies.