Stearns Secures 971,000 Dollars For Development Of Traumatic Brain Injury Diagnostic By Alachua's Banyan Biomarkers, Inc.

Main Category: Neurology / Neuroscience
Article Date: 15 Feb 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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"Military and civilians would greatly benefit by access to a non-invasive diagnostic for brain injury," said Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Ocala). "In recent years, I have supported the efforts of Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. to make that technology available. I am pleased to announce that my efforts have generated an additional $971,000 from the Department of Defense to support the development of this needed technology."

Stearns continued, "A simple blood test to detect the severity of brain injury would revolutionize the medical management of brain injured patients. Valuable time would be saved in the evaluation of patients and significant healthcare savings would be achieved through the elimination of unnecessary medical tests."

Gary Ascani, President and Chief Executive Officer, Banyan Biomarkers, Inc., commented, "Through this funding to Banyan Biomarkers, Congressman Stearns continues to show his commitment to develop medical solutions for our troops who are exposed to traumatic brain injury. Not only will the solutions being developed by Banyan assist the military medics in rapidly detecting brain injury, but the diagnostic will also provide a significant tool for physicians to detect the nearly two million TBIs suffered in the United States annually."

Brain injury is known as the "silent epidemic" because the injury is difficult to diagnose. In addition to military incidences, traumatic brain injury ranks as the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults.

Banyan Biomarkers, Inc. is located at 12085 Research Drive, Suite 180 in Alachua, Florida. For more information on the Company, visit http://www.BanyanBio.com.