
The Vestibular Disorders Association (VeDA) is excited to announce the formation of an Industry Advisory Council (IAC) to support vestibular patients around the world and help advocate for advancements in vestibular medicine.
The VeDA IAC is comprised of organizations whose products or services aid vestibular healthcare professionals and/or their patients. Members of the VeDA IAC provide strategic advice to VeDA’s Board of Directors, Medical & Scientific Advisory Board, and executive staff. Participation in the VeDA IAC indicates a serious commitment to support the vestibular community.
“Collaboration is at the heart of VeDA’s mission,” says Cynthia Ryan, VeDA’s Executive Director. “Together we can shine a light on these invisible illnesses, empower people with dizziness, vertigo, and imbalance to become advocates for their own healthcare, and contribute to advancements that reduce the diagnostic journey and improve quality of life for vestibular patients and their families.”
VeDA IAC Members:
Fitterfirst
Since 1985, Fitterfirst Inc. has been offering functional rehabilitation equipment for clinic, studio, office and home settings. Their unique mix of products is for health professionals, athletes, ergonomic specialists, and anyone interested in maintaining better wellness.
Fitterfirst is a family-run Canadian company founded by Louis Stack. Louis’ love for speed led him to racing Luge from 1983 – 1988 and to the Canadian World Cup Speed Skiing Team from 1991 – 1995. An accumulation of foot problems from birth and a knee injury provided motivation to create a line of rehabilitation products to help people improve balance and foster movement.
Gyrostim
GyroStim is a breakthrough medical device that helps the brain heal itself from within, without drugs or surgery. Gyrostim helps patients with conditions such as concussion and TBI, cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, MS, Parkinson’s, Down syndrome, and age-related vestibular dysfunction that benefit from motion-induced vestibular stimulation. Gyrostim provides data-driven therapeutic treatment that is more precise, replicable, and effective than manually administered physical therapy.
GyroStim is a highly specialized, computer-controlled, electromechanical, multi-axis rotational chair. It is a precise robotic medical device capable of harnessing and administering highly effective therapeutic doses of motion-induced vestibular stimulation.
Otolith Labs
Otolith Labs is pioneering the first medical wearable for the treatment of chronic vertigo, a symptom experienced by 11.6 million Americans. Otolith’s patented non-invasive head-worn technology uses precisely tuned vibrations to interact with the motion sensors in the inner ear, mitigating the symptoms of vertigo. This novel technology continues to be validated by several clinical studies: independent university studies, partner and company sponsored.
Otolith Labs was founded in 2015 by Sam Owen. Since founding, over 700 patients have taken part in numerous IRB approved clinical studies with Otolith’s devices. The company hopes to make a DeNovo submission to the FDA in the near future to bring this technology to market in the USA and expand to OUS markets over the next 5 years. For more information, please contact: [email protected].
Spiral Therapeutics
40 million people in the US qualify for hearing loss treatment, but there are no drugs approved for hearing loss. Drug delivery to the inner ear remains the largest obstacle.
Precise, non-invasive placement techniques, combined with long-acting delivery systems have the potential to overcome the barriers of drug delivery to the inner ear.
Inflammation and neurodegeneration are the origin of 90% of inner ear disorders. Biomarkers of active disease and improved patient selection are necessary to overcome the challenges of clinical development.
Inspired by ophthalmology, Spiral’s platform addresses hearing loss by delivering the right drugs, to the right place, for the right duration. Their novel drug delivery platform allows for minimally invasive, precise and durable exposure of drugs to the cochlea.
Spiral is advancing a therapeutic pipeline with focus on balance disorders and hearing loss. Their lead program, SPT-2101, is a sustained-release steroid formulation for the treatment of Ménière’s disease.
UprightVR
UprightVR creates Virtual Reality environments scientifically validated for Computerized Dynamic Posturography (CDP) testing. Their tests are inspired by the Sensory Integration in Balance and the Limits of Stability tests. Their assessments gather data on 10 major underlying causes of fall risk. These include: visual, vestibular, somatosensory, vis-vest mismatch, weighting preference motor control, reaction time, directional control, max. excursion and dual-task effects. Assessments can be completed in as little as 10 minutes. All data is encrypted for HIPAA compliance and client security.
Founder Dr. Geoffrey Wright’s background and education is in neuroscience, engineering, and rehabilitation science. He is Vice President of the International Society for Virtual Rehabilitation and on the board of directors of the International Society for Gait and Posture Research. His research has been funded by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), NSF, BSF, and NIH.
Urban Poling
Urban Poling’s mission is to increase mobility and function for every age, ability and fitness level.
As an award winning, women-owned and operated Canadian company incorporated in 2005, it was one of the first companies to bring Urban Poling (a.k.a., Nordic walking) to Canada. UP’s uniquely designed Urban and ACTIVATOR poles have been adopted as a therapy & fitness tool by diverse healthcare professionals and fitness instructors.
Urban Poling Activator® Academy educates and supports Allied Health and Wellness Professionals on how their evidence-based poles and program can be used as both a rehabilitation and exercise tool to promote healthy living in all stages of life. This program can be used to support a series of pre-gait exercises to build strength, improve flexibility, and coordination.
Vestibular First/Dizzy Care Network
Vestibular First’s mission is to create simple, effective, affordable, and empowering vestibular technologies to help improve the lives of those suffering from vestibular disorders.
The first prototype of Vestibular First’s infrared video goggle was made at the request of co-founder Helena Esmonde PT, DPT, NCS, who specializes in treating patients with neurologic, balance, and vestibular conditions. When Helena gained access to infrared video goggles she found that they vastly improved her ability to accurately diagnose and treat vestibular conditions, particularly for more complex patients. When she wanted to transition from a hospital-based outpatient clinic to a small, privately owned clinic she could not afford to purchase even the most basic goggles on the market, so she asked her tech-savvy co-founder and husband Patrick Esmonde, MSE if he could build her a pair. And the rest is history!
Vestibular First also produces inner ear models for educational purposes. Their pilot offering, the Dizzy Care Network, provides a direct path for individuals experiencing dizziness to find the optimal specialist based on their unique set of symptoms.
Contact Us
If you represent a company that is interested in joining VeDA’s Industry Advisory Council, send your inquiry to [email protected].
About Vestibular Disorders
The vestibular system includes the parts of the inner ear and brain that process the sensory information involved with controlling balance and eye movements. If disease or injury damages these processing areas, vestibular disorders can result. Vestibular disorders can also result from or be worsened by genetic or environmental conditions, or they can occur for unknown reasons.
Vestibular disorders can cause chronic dizziness, vertigo, imbalance, fatigue, disorientation, memory and concentration problems, and a host of other debilitating symptoms. Because vestibular disorders are invisible and misunderstood, patients are often accused of malingering. Loss of function and social isolation can lead to depression and anxiety, which exacerbates symptoms.