Technologies

Invention
This technology is a blood-based biomarker that can be used for rapid diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other neurodegenerative disease. Unlike most biomarkers, currently being studied for the diagnosis of TBI, which are found in the cerebral spinal fluid, this biomarker can be found in the blood, making it easier and faster to test for. This biomarker has the potential to not only diagnose TBI but also allow for monitoring progression, predicting clinical outcomes, and providing more detailed molecular-level information about the extent of TBI and patho-bioloigical changes of TBI.

Background
High profile injuries in professional sports have brought renewed attention to TBIs, such as concussions and bruising on the brain. The CDC estimates that 138 people in the United State die every day from TBI related complications and approximately 2.5 million emergency department visits and hospitalizations per year are related to TBI. Traditional diagnosis has relied on imprecise methods ranging from neuromotor testing by a physician, to CAT Scans and X-rays. However, it is critical that TBI is diagnosed early and clearly and therefore a more accurate test is needed. This biomarker has the potential to not only diagnose TBI but also allow for monitoring progression, predicting clinical outcomes, and providing more detailed molecular-level information about the extent of TBI and patho-bioloigical changes of TBI.