KAWATA Yumi, MD, PhD | Hedgehog MedTech, Inc.; HASHIZUME Masahiro, MD, PhD; TAKESHIMA Takao, MD, PhD
Competition Sponsor: Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development
Awardee Year: 2025
We are creating a migraine treatment app designed for people who suffer from migraines, along with a support tool for doctors. Migraine affects about one billion people worldwide and can seriously disrupt daily life, work, and emotional well-being—especially among people in their 30s and 40s. Many manage their symptoms only with painkillers, without addressing the underlying causes.
Our app offers cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), a proven method that helps people change how they respond to pain. It supports better long-term management without relying too heavily on medication. What makes our approach unique is that the app can be used alongside a special tool for doctors, so patients and physicians can work together to find the best mix of medication and behavioral therapy.
By helping people reduce how often and how severely they experience migraines, the app supports better health over the long term. It also helps prevent problems linked to taking too much medication, such as rebound headaches. For older adults who still struggle with migraines, the app may also improve quality of life, reduce feelings of isolation, and support mental well-being.
The app is already developed and early trials showed a reduction of about 4 headache days per month. We plan to improve the design based on user feedback and start a clinical trial soon. The doctor tool will also be refined with input from healthcare professionals to ensure it’s useful and easy to use.