The National Football League awarded a research grant to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine to further test and develop Neuro Kinetics‘ I-Portal PAS device for the early diagnosis of head concussions.
The NFL, along with co-sponsors Under Armour and GE Ventures, awarded the $500,000 grant as part of the league’s Head Health Challenge II medical research initiative. The Miller School of Medicine will collaborate with University of Pittsburgh Medical School and Neuro Kinetics on the project.
The I-Portal PAS is a portable device designed to diagnose mild traumatic brain injuries, or concussions, by tracking eye movements. Because of its relatively small size, the device can easily be used at sports venues or on the battlefield.
Neuro Kinetics has been conducting clinical trials of the I-Portal PAS and a related device called I-Portal NOTC at military medical facilities, backed by the U.S. Defense Dept.
“There’s widespread awareness that concussions are a serious crisis for both our military personnel and athletes at every level of professional and school sports,” Dr. Michael Hoffer of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine said in a statement. “It is urgent that we develop new and improved techniques for quick and accurate detection of potentially life-changing concussions. We are grateful to the NFL, Under Armour and GE for their support of this important work.”