I want to help rural India with my research on Parkinson's: Sindhoora Raja

“I have developed certain tests for diagnosis of Parkinson's disease which is a spiral test, a voice- based test as well as the Brain Age prediction model," says

Mangaluru: Sindhoora Raja, who recently won the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar for her innovations has said that if one diagnoses Parkinson's disease early, one can potentially improve patient outcomes by starting therapies as well as medical treatments early.

Giving a speech at the “Thingala Belaku-Gaurava Athithi” programme organised by Ullal Press Club at Thokkottu.

“I have developed certain tests for diagnosis of Parkinson's disease which is a spiral test, a voice- based test as well as the Brain Age prediction model.

"The treatment currently available in the market is deep brain stimulation as well as a wristband sort of thing. Those are really expensive, and cannot help rural India because they are only available in big hospitals and only a few of them are available in India.

"People below the poverty line, and even middle-class families, cannot afford that. That's why I have developed a device that sends vibrations to the fingers of patients at different intervals that reduce chambers and additionally improve symptoms like freezing of gait as well,” she said.

To a query, she said “I have patented my Brain Age prediction model and will file another patent for my vibro tactile device for Parkinson’s that I recently presented. I will also go ahead in the startup sector, aiming at rural India and uplifting rural Karnataka and the citizens of India who are diagnosed with Parkinson's with respect to a therapeutic device. I plan to expand it worldwide as well. Right now, my innovation is more of a prototype, and I will develop this into a full-fledged product soon,” she said.

“The patenting was managed by New Horizon College of Engineering. I filed a patent through them, through the Incubation Centre at New Horizon College of Engineering, and I have also worked at Atal Tinkering Lab which is a government initiative through the Atal Innovation Mission. They helped me with the development of prototypes and materials required for development as well as research purposes,” she added.

To a query on her experience at Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal Puraskar, she said “It provided an opportunity for me to interact with President Droupadi Murmu as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The award ceremony was followed by a parade of Indian cultures at Bharat Mandapam, which was an amazing experience. The Prime Minister encouraged me to go ahead with my research and asked about my projects and what I have been working on.”

Assembly Speaker UT Khader after felicitating Sindhoora said that talents in children can be promoted if they get encouragement from their parents. "I appreciate Sindhoora, who made my constituency and the nation proud. She is a motivation for the younger generation."