In our laboratory, we work every day to better understand a persistent and often invisible condition: Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS). People living with MdDS experience a constant sensation of rocking, swaying, or bobbing—as if they never stepped off the boat. It affects their work, their relationships, their freedom… their entire lives.
Yet MdDS remains one of the least-known balance disorders in the world. Even many physicians have never heard of it. This leads to delayed diagnoses, little understanding, and above all… far too few treatment options. That is exactly what we want to change.
What do we aim to achieve as the Lab for Equilibrium Investigations and Aerospace (LEIA)?
With your support, we can:
🔬 Investigate what MdDS truly is: We aim to unravel the underlying mechanisms and finally understand why some people continue to “rock,” from how the brain functions to the influence of hormones and contraceptives.
🧠 Develop new and better treatment methods: Current options are extremely limited. We want to change that. Innovative therapies, new stimulation techniques, and improved follow-up care—these are our goals.
🌍 Raise awareness: The more visibility MdDS receives, the faster patients will find the right help.
Why do we need your support? Unfortunately, our project was not selected for certain research grants—but that will not stop us. The need is too great, the patients too important, and the problem too urgent. With your help, we can continue building essential research that would otherwise come to a halt.