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Non-invasive assay to discriminate between mild-Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Contract: W81XWH-09-C-0150
Agency Tracking Number: A09A-025-0210
Amount: $99,885.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: STTR
Solicitation Topic Code: A09A-T025
Solicitation Number: 2009.A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2009
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2009-09-08
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-04-07
Small Business Information
P.O. Box 8175
Charlottesville, VA 22906
United States
DUNS: 942413162
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Martin Baruch, PhD
 Chief Scientist
 (434) 296-7000
 mcbaruch@comcast.net
Business Contact
 David Gerdt
Title: President
Phone: (434) 296-7000
Email: davidetc@firstva.com
Research Institution
 University of Virginia
 Sarah White
 
P.O. Box 400195
Charlottesville, VA, VA 22901
United States

 (434) 924-8426
 Nonprofit College or University
Abstract

The objective of this project is the development of an assessment system that will be able to determine the likelihood of a warrior having suffered a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The basis of the determination will be a computerized assessment of the functioning of the II, III, IV, VI, and VIII cranial nerves. This set of nerves provides the opportunity to obtain a sensitive and quantitative evaluation of two critical physiological control systems, eye movement and postural balance, that are, because of their high degree of sophistication, very sensitive to cerebral injury. In conjunction with mTBI experts part of the aim of the Phase I effort will be to evaluate and down-select different eye movement tracking and postural control assessment technologies and neurological testing criteria. In addition, control algorithms based on established machine learning approaches will be designed to enable the system to integrate inputs from the multiple sensor systems and to make categorical decisions. Comprehensive plans for Phase II for the construction of a prototype system and its testing in a population of injured warriors large enough to yield statistically significant results to support the validity of the neurological testing criteria will be laid out.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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