The Sant Pau Research Institute (IR Sant Pau) has formalized a strategic agreement with Ephion Health, a company specialized in developing artificial intelligence technologies for monitoring mobility in patients with movement-related diseases. Through this agreement, IR Sant Pau becomes a shareholder in the company, thereby consolidating a collaboration that began in 2021 and ensuring a long-term strategic partnership. This marks the first external startup in which IR Sant Pau is participating, representing a significant step forward in its innovation and technology transfer strategy.
Ephion Health was founded as a spin-off of Eurecat, Sant Joan de Déu, and The Collider at MWC, and from the beginning has worked with Dr. Luis Querol, a researcher at IR Sant Pau and an expert in peripheral neuropathies. Dr. Querol has led the clinical validation of Ephion Health’s technology applied to these conditions and will now join the company’s Advisory Board, continuing to provide clinical leadership in this area at Sant Pau.
In addition to his role as a researcher, Dr. Querol is a recognized authority in the field of peripheral neuropathies, further underscoring the importance of this collaboration. His involvement not only ensures that Ephion Health’s technology aligns with real clinical needs, but also exemplifies a new model of knowledge transfer in the biomedical field. The alliance goes beyond the typical relationship between researchers and companies, shifting from occasional external consulting to long-term strategic involvement. This enables innovation to reach clinical practice more quickly and effectively, directly benefiting patients and paving the way for similar future initiatives.
This agreement also represents an important milestone for IR Sant Pau, as Ephion Health becomes part of Sant Pau’s startup portfolio, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and technology transfer. Through this alliance, the goal is to promote a new model of collaboration between clinical researchers and companies, facilitating the implementation of innovative technologies in clinical care and directly benefiting patients.
Ephion Health’s technology makes it possible to obtain objective, quantifiable digital biomarkers related to patient movement, enabling a more accurate assessment of their progress. This tool represents a significant innovation compared to traditional evaluation methods, which often rely on subjective visual observations. The aim of the collaboration with IR Sant Pau is to validate this technology in peripheral neuropathies and develop a solution that can be applied in clinical practice, thereby addressing an unmet medical need.
