Roche to Develop New Diagnostic Technologies for Traumatic Brain Injuries

Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) represent a significant global health issue, affecting approximately 69 million people each year. TBI occurs when an external force disrupts normal brain function, with severity ranging from mild (such as concussions) to moderate and severe forms. The effects of TBI can be long-lasting, potentially resulting in permanent disabilities. Individuals who suffer from TBI may experience a range of symptoms, including cognitive impairments, motor difficulties, emotional disturbances, and behavioral changes. The broader impact of TBI is felt not only by the patients themselves but also by their families, healthcare systems, and society, highlighting the need for improved management, support structures, and collaborative efforts to enhance patient outcomes. Unfortunately, studies indicate that TBI is often underdiagnosed or diagnosed too late, underscoring the need for quicker and more accurate diagnostic methods to facilitate timely and effective treatment.

To address these challenges, Roche Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) has entered into a partnership with the U.S. Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) Burn and Blast Medical Countermeasures Program to drive innovation in TBI diagnosis. Through this collaboration, Roche and BARDA aim to develop novel diagnostic technologies that address the widespread impact of TBI, as well as enhance healthcare system preparedness for mass casualty events. Currently, neuroimaging techniques like CT and MRI scans are the primary diagnostic tools for TBI, but these methods can be costly and may not be widely available in mass casualty scenarios. Additionally, neuroimaging alone is insufficient for diagnosing all types of TBI and predicting patient outcomes.

Image: The new partnership will explore development of solutions to aid the diagnosis of TBI (Photo courtesy of Roche)

A major challenge lies in accurately stratifying patients with mild TBI to determine whether they require immediate intervention, further observation, or follow-up. A potential solution could be the development of a blood-based test, combined with clinical, physiological, or imaging data, to help healthcare professionals quickly identify and categorize TBI patients. Such a tool would enable earlier interventions, help prevent lasting damage, and improve the ability to predict patient outcomes and monitor treatment effectiveness. The goal of this partnership is to bring these innovations to market, potentially revolutionizing the way TBI is diagnosed and treated.

“We are honored to collaborate with BARDA on this important initiative,” said Life Cycle Leader Cardiometabolic and Neurology, Roche Diagnostics. “Our goal is to drive meaningful advancements in healthcare, ultimately enhancing patient care, outcomes and access. This partnership underscores our commitment to advancing medical diagnostics and addressing critical healthcare challenges such as scalable and accurate testing for traumatic brain injuries.

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