NEW investment is helping an Exeter-based company to develop technology which could help people with impaired brain function to live more independently.

Brain-in-Hand Ltd has developed a mobile phone-based system that works with existing therapies to help people with conditions including autism, acquired brain injury, ischemic stroke and Alzheimer's disease.

The company recently moved to the Innovation Centre at the University of Exeter.

Founder and chief executive Andrew Stamp said: "This is an excellent base from which to develop our company; the Innovation Centre offers a combination of expert advice and excellent links with university departments with which we are keen to collaborate."

Using a smartphone app linked to a secure website, Brain-in-Hand enables users to access reminders of how to deal with potentially stressful situations which arise during the day, such as a bus not arriving. Users can also feed back their anxiety state, with a support team on hand to offer help. "The software is written and we hope by next year we will have finished our development programme and launched it on the market," said Andrew. "It's a very small business at the moment but we hope it will grow significantly once we market this technology."

Brain-In-Hand has now concluded its second round financing, exceeding its fundraising target and attracting three new investors, including a member of the South West Angel and Investor Network (SWAIN). It comes after a first trial at Portsmouth University with students who have Asperger's syndrome showed promising results.

Brain-in-Hand has used the investment to fund a significant software update and is in detailed discussions about the commercial roll out of its mobile assistive technology. It is also about to start an extensive collaborative trial with Devon Partnership NHS Trust.

Peter Aitken, director of research and development at the trust, said: "The Brain-In-Hand complements work we have already done in using telemedicine in the field of self-harm.

"It has the potential to assist individuals in a very practical way and, in addition, it can provide useful data for the efficient management of support programmes and presents us with a significant opportunity to develop our services."

Philip Tellwright, managing director of SWAIN, said: "Brain-in-Hand first presented with SWAIN in September 2010 and received considerable interest. I am delighted that one of our investors has chosen to invest and I'm sure the numerous links he has with health care providers will be extremely useful to the company."