Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
[STK]
[IN] CPR STW HEA MTC BIO
[SU] TRI NPT
-- WITH PHOTO -- TO HEALTH, NATIONAL, AND TECHNOLOGY EDITORS:
Space institute funds eye tracking technology and software-enabled
therapeutics for brain health
HOUSTON, April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The EyeBoxCNS,a
diagnostic device developed to assess brain health through tracking
eye movement, and eFormulations, software enabled therapeutics which
combine prescription medicines with customized software apps for
brain-related conditions, have both been funded for further
development by the National Space Biomedical Research Institute
(NSBRI).
EyeBoxCNS, developed by Oculogica, Inc. of New York City, and
eFormulations, a therapeutic platform by Pear Therapeutics, Inc. of
Boston, are the latest technologies to benefit through funding from
the Space Medical and Related Technologies Commercialization Program
(SMARTCAP), administered by NSBRI's Industry Forum. SMARTCAP grants
are used to partner with the private sector to accelerate the
development of products meeting a need in space as well as on Earth.
Elevated pressure on the brain due to exposure to the space
environment is believed to cause visual impairments in some
astronauts."EyeBoxCNS can detect weaknesses of the nerves that move
the eye. These nerves are very sensitive to changes in pressure on
the brain, and thus are revealed by the eye tracking technology we are
developing," said Dr. Uzma Samadani, who together with Robert Ritlop,
cofounded Oculogica.
Pear Therapeutics is developing combination therapies for a variety of
brain-related disorders including pain, sleep disturbances,
depression, and anxiety. A specific prescription medication is paired
with an individualized software-based app, that together work in
concert."eFormulations provide the only way to simultaneously impact
brain experience as well as brain chemistry. That combination
provides an extremely powerful way to treat brain-related disorders,
both on Earth and in space," said Dr. Corey McCann, CEO of Pear
Therapeutics.
"EyeboxCNS and eFormulations represent new ways to administer
healthcare and we are thrilled to play our part in accelerating the
development of these promising technologies for the benefit of space
explorers as well as people on Earth," said Dr. Dorit Donoviel,
NSBRI's Deputy Chief Scientist and Industry Forum Lead. Donoviel is
also an assistant professor within the Baylor College of Medicine
Center for Space Medicine and Department of Pharmacology. "SMARTCAP
offers grants that help small companies broaden the reach of their
products, open new market opportunities, and simultaneously address
the significant challenges faced by humans living and working in
space."
SMARTCAP now accepts applications year-round, with applications
reviewed quarterly. To be considered for review during grant cycle 2
(April - July, 2014), applications must be received no later than 5
p.m. central time, May 8, 2014. Submission guidelines and additional
information regarding SMARTCAP are located at www.smartcap.org. Grant
recipients must secure a 100-percent match in funding. This leveraging
of federal funding actively fosters public-private collaborations and
partnerships.
SMARTCAP-funded projects should advance the commercialization of a
product. Examples of desirable project goals are new applications for
existing products, reformulation or refinement of prototypes, or
usability testing. The outcomes must address a high priority need in
space and improve life on Earth.
Established in 1997 through a NASA competition, NSBRI is based at
Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and is a consortium of leading
biomedical institutions including BCM, Brookhaven National Laboratory,
Harvard Medical School, The Johns Hopkins University, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Mount Sinai
School of Medicine, Rice University, Texas A&M University, University
of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania Health
System and University of Washington. NSBRI, a 501(c)(3) organization
partnered with NASA, is studying the health risks related to
long-duration spaceflight and developing the technologies and
countermeasures needed for human space exploration missions. The
Institute's science, technology and education projects take place at
approximately 60 institutions across the United States.For more
information, please visit www.nsbri.org.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130611/DC29942LOGO
SOURCE National Space Biomedical Research Institute
-0- 04/16/2014
/CONTACT: Ron Gilmore, Director of Science and Education Communications, National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI), Ronald.gilmore@bcm.edu, 713-798-7595
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130611/DC29942LOGO
/Web Site: http://www.nsbri.org
CO: National Space Biomedical Research Institute
ST: Texas
IN: CPR STW HEA MTC BIO
SU: TRI NPT
PRN
-- DC07001 --
0000 04/16/2014 18:30:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
