Richmond biotech BrainBox Solutions Inc., the maker of an artificial intelligence-enabled concussion test, said Tuesday it has received a patent for one of the methods it uses to detect traumatic brain injuries.
The Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor, as it is called, is just one component of the biomarker panel in the company’s testing for concussions. CEO Donna Edmonds said in a statement incorporating BDNF in its concussion panels helps the company generate an objective traumatic brain injury score that then can guide decision-making from health care providers.
The patent is based on the BrainBox’s discovery that a decrease in blood levels of BDNF alone are specific to the detection of concussions, the company said. The patent covers both the diagnosis of a traumatic brain injury and patient monitoring after an injury to help determine a return to work or the playing field.
The biotech said its intellectual property portfolio includes 17 patents protecting more than 30 proprietary concussion biomarkers as well as 18 pending applications for other new biomarkers.
In March, the company was awarded a $3.5 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke to support the development of a diagnostic tool for concussions and cognitive impairment in the elderly. The company said at the time the funding would allow it to expand its technology and collect more clinical and scientific evidence, bringing it closer to its goal of developing traumatic brain injury tests for all patient groups.
BrainBox is funding its various trials through a $23 million Series A round announced in late 2020. That round was led by Massachusetts-based BioVentures Investors and included participation from the Tauber Foundation of Bethesda, the Virginia Tech Carilion Innovation and Seed Funds, San Francisco’s Genoa VC, New York’s Pharmakon Holdings LLC, Astia Angels and additional investors, including NBA All-Star Kevin Love.
