Spotlight: The Movement Analysis and Robotics Laboratory (MARlab)

Principal Investigator: Dr. Maurizio Petrarca

Location: Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, Italy

Year Founded: 2000

What disease areas do you research?

What models and techniques do you use?

Wearable Technologies
Movement analysis
Robotics
Clinical standardized assessment tools

This is group picture taken during a conference. From left to right: Silvia Minosse, Alberto Romano, Martina Favetta, Maurizio Petrarca (PI), Gessica Vasco, Susanna Summa and Riccardo Carbonetti. Image courtesy of *Susanna Summa*.

Research Focus

What is your research about?

MARlab has a lot of experience in the rehabilitation of children with motor disorders including cerebellar diseases. We specialize in the use of motion analysis systems and robotics. Using advanced tools, we customize assessments and rehabilitative settings matching children needs in an ecological context.

We are involved in research to define specific digital biomarker and we are exploring different technological solutions, including wearable technology, to monitor the patient at home.

Rehabilitative competencies assure clinical opportunity in developing technological tools for training and assessment of the postural control, upper-limb coordination, gait, speech and cognition in pathological conditions.

Why do you do this research?

Ataxias are rare and chronic diseases usually without cure. The progression of the disease needs to be monitored periodically, so patients visit the hospital to control their condition by performing several clinical protocols. Developing more accurate and precise technology, to measure symptoms remotely, will help us better measure the impact of different treatments and rehabilitation in ecological contexts, decreasing the patient’s stress. This will help researchers and doctors knowing what works best for the patient.