I-Corps: Web-based Application for the Treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

I-Corps项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是开发一个基于网络的应用程序，帮助妇女管理多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）。多囊卵巢综合征是女性中最常见的内分泌紊乱，导致肥胖、心脏病、糖尿病、不孕症和癌症的风险更高。患有多囊卵巢综合征的女性平均使用5到6个不同的应用程序来控制她们的症状。其中许多应用程序并不是基于研究。多囊卵巢综合征的妇女注意到沮丧，困惑和疲惫试图确定正确的饮食和正确的方式来管理他们的健康问题。许多人没有机会接触到专家，甚至没有当地的医疗保健提供者了解多囊卵巢综合征。目的是教育多囊卵巢综合征的女性了解她们独特的营养和代谢需求，并为多囊卵巢综合征的女性提供一个“地方”，让她们从该领域的专家那里获得基于证据的建议。这个I-Corps项目的基础是开发一个基于网络的多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）治疗应用程序。研究表明多囊卵巢综合征患者可以通过控制饮食来控制和减轻症状。这种饮食的独特之处在于它不是基于计算卡路里摄入量，而是基于从饮食中消除某些元素。这项技术是基于一项前瞻性临床试验，在不计算卡路里、碳水化合物或脂肪的情况下，8周内平均体重减轻19磅。此外，参与者的空腹胰岛素减少了50%，总睾酮水平也显著降低。提出的技术目标是直接向患者提供关于多囊卵巢综合征的循证教育，并减轻照顾这些患者的医疗保健提供者的一些负担。目标是根据营养和医学专家对多囊卵巢综合征管理进行的10年研究，提供教育和治疗。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this I-Corps project is the development of a web-based application to help women manage Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is the most common endocrine disorder in women and leads to higher risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, infertility, and cancer. Women with PCOS are using on average 5 to 6 separate apps to manage their symptoms. Many of these apps are not based upon research. Women with PCOS note frustration, confusion and exhaustion trying to determine the right diet and the right way to manage their health problems. Many do not have access to a specialist or even a local health care provider with knowledge of PCOS. The goal is to educate women with PCOS about their unique nutritional and metabolic needs and to offer “one place” for women with PCOS to go for evidence-based advice from experts in this field.This I-Corps project is based on the development of a web-based application for the treatment of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Research has shown that PCOS patients may control and mitigate their symptoms by managing their diet. The unique feature of this diet is that it is not based on counting caloric intakes, rather it is based on eliminating certain elements from the diet. The technology is based on a prospective clinical trial leading to an average weight loss of 19 pounds in 8 weeks without counting calories, carbs or fats. In addition, participants showed a 50% reduction in fasting insulin and a significant reduction in total testosterone as well. The goals of the proposed technology are to provide evidence-based education about PCOS directly to patients, and to relieve some of the burden on health care providers who care for these patients. The goal is to provide education and treatment based on 10 years of research conducted by nutritional and medical experts for the management of PCOS.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.