• 1499
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • Help Ukraine

Brothers Jamie and Ben created PatientsLikeMe - a plaftform that connects ALS patients

Joana Afonso PI 于 2023-08-09 19:38 分享

About the solution

The concept for PatientsLikeMe was birthed from the personal experiences of its co-founders, the Heywood family. One of the brothers, Stephen Heywood, was diagnosed with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) in 1999. The Heywoods, including Stephen's brothers Benjamin and James, sought out the best treatments and potential cures for Stephen. They recognized the value of shared patient data and insights in addressing conditions like ALS.
Platform Features:
- Symptom and Treatment Tracking: Patients can input data about their symptoms, medications, side effects, and other treatments.
- Condition-specific forums: These allow patients to discuss their experiences, ask questions, and offer support to others.
- Research Opportunities: Patients can opt to participate in research studies based on the data they provide.
- Treatment and Symptom Reports: Aggregated data is used to produce reports that can inform other patients about the efficacy and side effects of specific treatments.Data-Driven Research: By gathering patient-reported outcomes, PatientsLikeMe provides valuable data to researchers and pharmaceutical companies. This data aids in understanding diseases better, improving treatments, and focusing on what patients really need.
Privacy: Even though the platform is about data sharing, privacy is a core concern. Patients can choose how much they want to share and with whom.
Impact: The platform has grown substantially since its inception, with members representing over 2,800 conditions. It has been instrumental in producing several research studies. For example, in 2011, data from PatientsLikeMe was crucial in a study debunking the claimed efficacy of lithium carbonate in treating ALS.
Monetization and Partnership: The company has formed partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, offering access to its data (while protecting individual privacy) for a fee. This business model has sparked debates about data ethics, but the company maintains that it's essential for maintaining a free platform for its users and driving research forward.
The idea behind PatientsLikeMe is the belief that when patients share real-world data, collaboration on a global scale becomes possible, and better outcomes can be achieved for everyone. Over the years, it has become a significant tool for many patients worldwide, providing them with the information and community support that may not be readily available elsewhere.

More information at: https://www.patientslikeme.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ln6p4I6qPB4

这些解决方案不应包括使用药物,化学品或生物制品(包括食品);创伤性设备;冒犯性的,商业或内在危险的内容。该解决方案未经医学验证。请谨慎进行!如果您有任何疑问,请咨询健康专家。

DISCLAIMER: This story was written by someone who is not the author of the solution, therefore please be advised that, although it was written with the utmost respect for the innovation and the innovator, there can be some incorrect statements. If you find any errors please contact the patient Innovation team via info@patient-innovation.com

关于发明者

When Stephen Heywood was diagnosed with ALS in 1998 at the age of 29, his brothers Jamie and Ben got to work, trying anything they could to slow Stephen's disease progression. They became citizen scientists, harnessing the power of any and all information they could find. It was a trial-and-error approach. Something was missing and they knew there had to be a better way. So, they launched PatientsLikeMe (PLM) to connect ALS patients in 2005. It quickly expanded, and since 2011, we have been welcoming people living with any health condition to connect with peers, learn together and take charge.

喜欢该发明
Close zh
Close