Independence is key for those who want to pursue a happy, healthy life. Though we would certainly love for someone else to do our daily work or chores and pay our bills; we constantly strive to be strong and independent. However, for those suffering from debilitating illnesses, it seems impossible to lead such lives. That’s why one NJ university is doing to its best to help, specifically when it comes to Muscular Dystrophy.
The New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) in Newark is among those aiding in advances to assist muscular dystrophy patients; for example, they develop innovative medical technology which helps patients lead more independent lifestyles.
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How Tech is Changing the Lives of Patients with Muscular Dystrophy
On this episode of One-on-One with Steve Adubato, show host Steve Adubato, PhD., visits the NJIT campus to meet with Madeline Corrigan, the post doctoral research associate in the Department of Biomedical Engineering. During their chat, they discuss how she is helping develop technology that would change the lives of muscular dystrophy patients.
Muscular dystrophy consists of a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. Symptoms commonly begin during childhood, but other types of muscular dystrophy may not surface until adulthood. Those suffering from an illness on this spectrum may eventually lose the ability to walk; or either struggle to breathe or swallow food. Though there is no known cure for muscular dystrophy, researchers at NJIT, including Corrigan, are developing revolutionary products for those patients.
As a researcher, Corrigan explained that it is crucial to ensure that the potential users of these products are involved in the research process every step of the way.
“It can’t be about what a researcher thinks somebody wants,” Corrigan said. “It’s about making sure that these individuals find a real use—and not only that it could potentially solve a problem, but that it can fit into their lives in a way that’s unobtrusive and doesn’t provide any additional barriers in other aspects of their lives.”
To learn more about how Corrigan and her colleagues are revolutionizing medical technology for those with muscular dystrophy, check out this segment of One-on-One with Steve Adubato.
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