Irish medtech firm patientMpower is developing an artificial intelligence-powered tool for the prediction of lung disease in partnership with RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences, UCD and Enterprise Ireland.

The development is expected to build in patientMpower's existing work in remote medical monitoring innovation and aims to improve the management of chronic lung diseases, with working initially focusing on interstitial lung diseases (ILD), which has an estimated treatment market size of €3bn globally.

People with the most common form of ILD have a lower average life expectancy than those with most cancers, but the speed of disease progression is highly variable and as yet unpredictable, severely impacting both clinical care decisions and patients’ lives. 

The tool will monitor symptoms of ILD along with lung function and other medical parameters to predict the rate of progression of the disease. Utilising an algorithm to sift through collated data, clinicians will be better equipped to predict to the progression of ILD among their patients, and plan care accordingly.

Cepta Duffy, department manager for life sciences & healthtech at Enterprise Ireland, said the project is "a strong example of the ambition and expertise within Ireland’s digital healthtech sector".

Professor Killian Hurley, the RCSI principal investigator who leads research into genetic lung diseases and regenerative medicine, said: "This collaboration between RCSI, UCD and patientMpower represents a significant step forward in how we approach the management of chronic lung disease.

"By combining clinical insight with advanced AI technology, we have the potential to transform care pathways and improve outcomes for patients living with conditions like ILD. It’s an exciting example of how Irish-led innovation can have global impact.”

Founded in 2015 by chief executive Eamonn Costello and co-founders Kerill Thornhill and Colin Edwards, patientMpower specialises in remote digital monitoring for lung conditions, enabling patients to better manage their own healthcare and help reduce lengthy hospital waiting lists. 

Based at The Digital Hub in Dublin 8, patientMpower has grown to provide digital health solutions across seven countries, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands.

Over its ten years in business, its technology has supported the care of nearly 20,000 patients, with current delivery programmes spanning 12 different conditions across 35 clinical centres. 

“patientMpower was born out of direct experience in navigating the healthcare system, with a view that emerging technology could be used to support a more patient-centric approach to care," said Costello.

"Over the last ten years, we have seen this model come into play with our technology rolled out across 35 clinical care centres and its success to date is astounding.

"As technology continues to rapidly develop, we want to grow with it and that’s why we’re now exploring how AI-powered technology can support our systems, like so many other sectors. 

“The story of patientMpower over the last ten years has been truly incredible and I am very proud and thankful to our team, as well as our partners, friends and colleagues across The Digital Hub campus and its wider network.

"We look forward to continuing to grow our business and introduce new technology to enhance the patient experience and contribute positively to the healthcare sector at home in Ireland and abroad.”

Photo: (l-r) Eamonn Costello, CEO of patientMpower; Rebecca Borton, Health Outcomes and Project Lead, with Prof. Dr. Marlies Wijsenbeek, Chair of the Erasmus MC Multidisciplinary ILD Centre.