News

Company News: monikit receives EUR 1.86 million funding for the further development of its mobile seizure-detector for epileptics

— Supported by Life Science Inkubator (LSI) Bonn

— Novel system for the detection and documentation of epileptic seizures allows for personalized treatment

Tuebingen-based spin-out project monikit today announced the start of its incubation at Life Science Inkubator (LSI) Bonn. The incubation comes with a project funding of EUR 1.86 million and is supported by seasoned life science and medtech experts.

monikit is developing a system for the sensitive and automatic detection and documentation of generalized and focal seizures in everyday situations. The technology is based on a mobile sensor system and a proprietary algorithm. monikit’s product for the first time will enable the recording of unbiased information on occurrence and type of epileptic seizures during the everyday life of patients. For the patient’s physician it will be easier to individually adapt the medication towards faster and improved clinical results. In addition, monikit’s technology can be used to alert family members in case of a severe seizure.

The monikit idea was developed by founders Florian Lutz and Kevin Klett during their Master studies. Prof. Dr. Yvonne Weber, scientific advisor of monikit and Senior Physician with focus on epileptology in the neurology department of University Hospital Tuebingen and the Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research (HIH), immediately realized the potential of a mobile detector for seizures. At University Hospital Tuebingen, the project team successfully identified characteristic medical values that are changing during seizures. These values now constitute the basis of monikit’s algorithm for the detection of seizures.

At LSI, monikit will receive approximately €1.86 million research and development funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) over the next three years. The team will use the proceeds to fund the next steps of its technology and product development.

“We identified a great demand for a mobile seizure-detector, both for personalized therapy and for the monitoring of outpatients with epilepsy,” said Kevin Klett. Florian Lutz added: “As a first step, we will use the funding to strengthen our team in computer and data science and to greatly extend our clinical data collection among epileptics.”

„We are quite happy to not only provide this ambitious project and the highly committed project team with funding, but also with access to our huge medtech network and know-how,“ said Dr. Jörg Fregien, CEO of LSI.