A research project at Appalachian State University, led by Dr. Gavin Colquitt, has received a $1.1 million grant from NCInnovation to develop and expand an interactive digital tool for families of young children with movement-related developmental delays.
The two-year project, called 3 Moves Ahead NC, seeks to address several challenges faced by families in North Carolina and beyond. According to Dr. Colquitt, “In North Carolina, 50% of parents have reduced work hours, or have switched to part-time roles or exited the workforce due to child care shortages. The issue is most severe among families of children with movement-related delays — such as difficulty sitting, walking, feeding or toileting — who cannot obtain child care without specialized therapy and support.”
The new digital platform will use artificial intelligence to coach parents on early motor development and provide resources such as best practices for caring for children from birth to age three with developmental delays. The service will include home-based solutions, customized video content, progress tracking tools, a peer support network and other resources delivered through a subscription-based online model. These features have already shown positive results in clinical trials.
Michelle Bolas, acting CEO of NCInnovation, said: “Dr. Colquitt’s medical evaluation tool holds promise for advancing early childhood mobility and development. NCInnovation helps universities advance research with just this kind of real-world application, strengthening the university-to-industry pipeline that’s central to American competitiveness.”
NCInnovation is a nonprofit public-private partnership that supports research at North Carolina’s public universities through grants and mentorships aimed at fostering economic growth and job creation across the state.
Appalachian State University serves as one of seven regional hubs for NCInnovation by connecting researchers with industry partners and business services to help bring their innovations into the marketplace.
Dr. Christine Hendren, vice chancellor of research and innovation at App State, said: “Dr. Colquitt’s biohealth innovation addresses a pressing regional and national need and fits into two areas of strategic innovation emphasized at App State — child care and health and wellness. His work is a great example of how we can apply expertise to a critical challenge area and make a difference with public impact research translated to real-world outcomes.”
Experts emphasize the importance of identifying developmental delays early in order to prevent negative impacts on playtime activities, peer interactions or school participation.
The 3 Moves Ahead NC initiative also plans outreach efforts targeting high school students interested in digital health care careers through programs like GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) and Camp Med. Project partners include military health systems, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation and Mountain Area Health Education Center.
Facilities supporting this initiative include Levine Hall for Health Sciences—which offers dedicated research space—and AppWell’s interprofessional clinic facilities as well as Growing Well Developmental Clinic equipped with telehealth infrastructure suitable for implementing digital care models.
Appalachian State University’s Beaver College of Health Sciences enrolls more than 3,600 students across various undergraduate and graduate programs focused on health sciences disciplines (https://healthsciences.appstate.edu). The college operates out of both Holmes Convocation Center on main campus as well as Levine Hall—a modern facility located within Boone’s Wellness District—and maintains partnerships with organizations like Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program along with UNC Health Appalachian.
The Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness (AppWell) connects the university community through research initiatives aimed at improving regional health outcomes (https://appwell.appstate.edu).
Appalachian State University is part of the University of North Carolina System serving over 21,000 students across its campuses in Boone and Hickory as well as online offerings (https://www.appstate.edu).
