This Pfizer-led consortium, in partnership with DEEP Measures, seeks to establish cross-industry consensus on terminology and definitions for measures of physical activity, creating a shared scientific foundation that accelerates innovation, evidence generation, and regulatory alignment.
The Challenge
The advancements in digital health technologies now enable detailed quantification of human movement and physical function in both clinical trials and real‑world settings. However, inconsistent and confusion around the terminologies including physical activity, physical function, physical behavior, and mobility, undermines measurement validity, limits cross‑study comparability and complicates regulatory review. Misaligned definitions across pharma sponsors, device manufacturers, academic groups, and regulatory bodies constrain data harmonization and ultimately slow clinical translation of these measures.
Our Goal
This Pfizer-led consortium, in partnership with DEEP Measures, seeks consensus on harmonized terminologies and definitions for measures of physical activity. It will resolve key ambiguities, including distinctions among physical function, physical activity, physical behavior, and mobility; active vs. non-sedentary behavior; and gait vs. walking speed. It will also seek consensus on how interpretable these measures are to patients.
How We’ll Get There
Through a structured Delphi panel process, we'll:
- Define the scope with input from all stakeholders
- Assemble a diverse expert panel spanning industry, academia, and technology
- Conduct three survey rounds to build consensus iteratively
- Hold a final collaborative meeting to solidify recommendations
- Publish an original research paper co-authored by participants, documenting our findings for the broader scientific and regulatory community
- Pharmaceutical companies advancing digital measures of physical activity
- Technology companies developing wearables and smartphone applications for activity measurement
- Academic teams pioneering mobility measures and measurement technologies
Why This Matters
For cross-industry research:
Standardized definitions will enhance measurement validity, enable robust meta-analysis, and improve reproducibility across studies.
For your organization:
Aligned terminology positions your teams for more effective evidence generation, streamlined internal communication, and stronger regulatory submissions.
For the industry:
A common language enables meaningful dialogue with regulators, health technology assessment bodies, and notified bodies, accelerating the path from innovation to impact.
For patients:
Better measurement standards mean better evidence and interpretable measures, which lead to better treatments and interventions that improve lives.
Join Us
This initiative invites all industry experts who are actively working on digital measures of physical activity, such as:
Your contribution can take many forms of funding, expertise, or prior work that shapes the mission. DEEP's built-in legal framework and mission contracting services will aim to simplify collaboration for all partners who wish to engage.
Establishing a Common Scientific Foundation for Physical Activity Measurement
For inquiries regarding participation or additional information, please contact jacqueline@deepmeasures.health
