51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Neubond, an 51³Ô¹ÏÍø spinout, is finalising its wearable neuromuscular interfaces for stroke recovery, built on world-class research in neurorehabilitation.

, a spinout from 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Department of Bioengineering, has raised £1.5 million in seed funding to finalise development of its stroke rehabilitation platform and wearable device that enables sustainable stroke recovery and reduced costs for clinicians.

led the funding round – its first into a UK company – with participation from and New Wave Ventures. Neubond will use the funds to complete product development and undertake a pivotal study that will inform future clinical trials and progress towards regulatory approval for its platform.

Motivation is vital for stroke patients, and our mission is to give them hope. Our platform uses a simple and effective biofeedback mechanism so that patients can see the effect their rehabilitation efforts are having Jumpei Kashiwakura Co-founder, Neubond

Building on fundamental research into neuromechanics and neuroplasticity, led by co-founder , Neubond has created a compact wearable bracelet packed with tiny sensors that detect muscle activation with high precision. Through its rehabilitation platform, the device helps stroke patients remake the connection between their intention to move and muscle activation by enabling patients to perceive muscle movement, and clinicians to monitor patient progress remotely.

Dr Patrick Sagastegui Alva, co-founder of Neubond, said: “We’re thrilled to be working with expert investors as we progress our stroke rehabilitation platform towards final product development and regulatory approval. This funding will help us get our device into the hands of patients and clinicians and to learn much more about how our platform performs in practice.”

Ted Yamamoto, General Partner, WASEDA University Ventures, Inc, said: “Neubond’s groundbreaking technology is built upon deep scientific evidence and world-class research in neurorehabilitation, with the potential to transform the recovery journey of stroke patients around the world. We believe the company’s core technologies could extend into broader applications such as robotics, human-machine interfaces and next-generation assistive technologies.”

Putting rehabilitation into patients' hands

Stroke patients may experience movement issues, muscle weakness and balance problems. Rehabilitation is an intensive process, with current recommending a minimum of three hours combined therapy a day, five times a week.

“Motivation is vital for stroke patients, and our mission is to give them hope” said Mr Jumpei Kashiwakura, co-founder of Neubond. “Our platform uses a simple and effective biofeedback mechanism so that patients can see the effect their rehabilitation efforts are having. After stroke, a patient might struggle to know when their muscles are activating, but our platform helps to remake the connection between trying to move and muscle activation.”

Neubond is built on over a decade of research led by Professor Dario Farina, head of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Neuromechanics and Rehabilitation Technology lab. Professor Farina said: “We have a strong base of evidence that neuroplasticity can be induced by detecting a motor command and applying artificial sensory feedback – guiding the brain to remake connections. Neubond has made rapid progress in translating this laboratory science into a simple device that patients can use at home.”

The company has so far developed its device through over £720,000 in grant funding, including a prestigious. This has enabled a pilot clinical study and more extensive user testing and clinician feedback.

In a 15-patient pilot study, conducted by the company, users showed a 30% improvement in range of motion over a month of intervention.

The funds raised in this investment round will enable the company to finalise product development and compliance with safety standards while achieving medical device certification from MHRA (UK).

Neubond is also running a clinical feasibility study at Charing Cross Hospital, London, working with patients and clinicians to assess their device in clinical practice. The results of this study will inform a future randomised clinical trial of the device.

Connected at-home rehabilitation platform

Stroke patients need lots of support and our healthcare systems aren’t built to provide enough of it. By enabling patients and their doctors to monitor progress with high fidelity, we hope not only to encourage patients during rehabilitation but also to ensure more patients get high quality care. Jumpei Kashiwakura Co-founder, Neubond

Neubond’s wearable is integrated with a monitoring app that can be used by patients and their doctors to track progress and assess the quality of rehabilitation intervention.

Patients can use the app while performing rehab exercises and see exactly when their muscles have activated, helping to rebuild the connection between intent to move and muscle activation.

Doctors can use the app to set up a rehabilitation programme and gain detailed insight into patients’ performance – when the patient exercises, how many repetitions they perform, how effective their muscle contraction is and how well they are responding to the programme. Because the platform enables remote monitoring of patient progress, it can reduce visiting costs and enable a sustained relationship between doctor and patient.

“The platform we have developed bridges a gap in healthcare provision. Stroke patients need lots of support and our healthcare systems aren’t built to provide enough of it. By enabling patients and their doctors to monitor progress with high fidelity, we hope not only to encourage patients during rehabilitation but also to ensure more patients get high quality care,” said Mr Jumpei Kashiwakura.

Founded at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Professor Dario Farina, one of Neubond’s co-founders, leads the Neuromechanics and Rehabilitation Technology lab in 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s Department of Bioengineering. The lab examines fundamental questions about how the brain and muscular and skeletal systems interact to produce movement.

Professor Dario Farina said: “A large strand of our research over the years has been into how neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain to reforge connections and networks – can be induced by decoding a motor command and applying artificial sensory feedback. It’s really rewarding to see this being translated successfully through Neubond.”

Outside of the lab, Neubond has made use of 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s award-winning entrepreneurial ecosystem, participating in programmes and winning a track of the , 51³Ô¹ÏÍø’s premiere entrepreneurial competition, in 2024. But the company remains well-connected with the group where it was founded, says Professor Farina: “We have PhD and Master’s students co-supervised by Neubond, as well as a longstanding collaboration with Professor Paul Bentley’s group, based at Charing Cross Hospital – so we are still close to the fundamental research backing Neubond.”

Collaboration with Waseda University

Following the investment round, Professor Hiroyuki Ishii of will support Neubond as an advisor. Professor Ishii is a leading figure in robotics research in Japan, and Director of the Waseda Entrepreneurship Centre.

Neubond co-founder Jumpei is an alumnus of Waseda University and was inspired to become a researcher following a visit to Waseda’s campus as a high school student. He said, “I’m excited to share my experience of building Neubond with students at the Waseda Entrepreneurship Centre.”

Professor Hiroyuki Ishii said: “I am honoured to contribute to Neubond as an advisor. I previously worked with the Jumpei in Waseda University, where we studied cutting-edge robotics and built strong technical foundations together. I have seen firsthand the team’s dedication and intellectual rigour. Their thoughtful execution and long-term vision have been truly impressive.”