Parkinson’s mobile app grows US presence with incubator deal
U.K.'s Neu Health joins partnership with Texas Medical Center
Neu Health said it’s joining an incubator program that will help it expand its flagship product, a smartphone app that lets people with Parkinson’s disease and dementia track their symptoms from home, in the U.S. market.
The UK-based company said it has been selected to join the U.S. Healthtech and Medical Devices Global Incubator Programme, a six-month initiative aimed at helping healthcare innovators break into the U.S. market. The program is run by Innovate UK in partnership with Texas Medical Center Innovation and backed by the UK government.
The company said the incubator program will provide it with direct access to medical experts, major hospital systems, and investment networks at the Texas Medical Center (TMC) in Houston.
“The expertise and networks through the Global Incubator Programme at TMC give us the opportunity to reach the health systems and clinicians who are ready to move beyond reactive care,” Caroline Cake, CEO and co-founder of Neu Health, said in a company press release. “Every day these tools aren’t in the hands of families means more people are facing decline without support. This incubator accelerates our mission to change that.”
TMC treats more than 10 million patients each year across 21 hospitals and research institutions, creating a “massive healthcare ecosystem” that makes it an ideal launchpad for Neu Health’s U.S. expansion into neurological care, the company said. The program also provides regulatory guidance and commercialization support, and it combines virtual mentoring with on-site immersion in Houston until March 2026.
App measures symptoms including tremors, shifts in voice
Parkinson’s is marked by the gradual loss of nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger that helps control movement and coordination. Dopamine shortage is linked to tremor, slowed movement, stiff muscles, weakness, and impaired coordination, though problems with memory and thinking can also occur.
Parkinson’s symptoms gradually progress over time. Subtle changes are often missed in routine clinic visits, as most patients wait six months or longer between appointments, according to Neu Health.
The company’s app uses built-in sensors to monitor cognitive and motor changes in neurological disorders. Patients are guided through a series of short assessments that track shifts in voice, memory, movement, and thinking ability. The results generate research-validated scores that are shared with clinicians, helping them detect disease progression earlier, adjust treatment plans, and prioritize care.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently granted 501(k) clearance to Neu Health’s tremor measurement tool. The clearance means the tool has met rigorous safety and effectiveness standards compared to existing medical devices, and can be marketed in the U.S. for use by adults with mild to moderate Parkinson’s. It’s the first system of its kind to track motor symptoms using only a phone, without the need for wearable devices or clinic equipment, according to the company.
“We’re entering the U.S. market at a moment when health systems are under pressure to manage neurological diseases more effectively,” said Lorna Sharpe, director of business operations at Neu Health. The incubator program “gives us the opportunity to work alongside the clinicians and researchers tackling those challenges head‑on.”
About the Author
