InteliSpark client, Quadrant Biosciences, wins a $2.68 million SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The project aim is to refine a new diagnostic tool in the detection of mild traumatic brain injury, also known as a concussion, in school-aged children and young adults.
Among children aged 14 and younger, concussions contributed to nearly 640,000 emergency room visits and 18,000 hospital stays in 2013. Children and adolescents make up the majority of the 3 million concussions that occur annually in the US, and yet many concussions continue to go undiagnosed. This leads to suboptimal post-injury treatment and management, thereby increasing the likelihood of a wide range of long-term negative effects including emotional and behavioral problems and cognitive deficits.
Concussions are underdiagnosed because conventional diagnostics are often inaccurate, relying on subjective measures. To address this critical health challenge, Quadrant Biosciences, in partnership with Penn State University, will refine a rapid saliva diagnostic test that is accurate, non-invasive, and objective. Pilot studies have allowed researchers to identify a panel of saliva miRNAs capable of diagnosing concussions.
In this NIH funded project, researchers will refine the test to differentiate between patients with concussions from those who suffer from conditions that mimic concussion symptoms such as chronic headaches, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. This innovative diagnostic tool has the potential to save lives and improve patient recovery.