TBI Identification and Monitoring Through Retinal Scanning

Project Summary/Abstract Rebion has produced a portable device – with support from NS117553 – that shows potential for serving as a tool that can identify functional impairment as a result of TBI. The device uses a retinal scan to measure disruptions between the retina and the visual pathway of the brain. The long-term vision of this work is to develop a tool that can serve as a functional assessment of injury at the time of injury, as well as during recovery, and to be paired with currently-available blood-based biomarkers to provide a comprehensive report for patients and providers. The device’s approach, unlike eye-tracking or any other available eye technology, is to assess the quality of signals between the retina and the brain. Accurate monitoring of function and overall recovery from TBI are underserved problems in the healthcare system that Rebion is seeking to help solve. TBI (traumatic brain injury) is the leading cause of long-term disability and death for individuals under the age of 45. Over 2.5 million cases of TBI are reported each year in the United States, with ~3-5 million individuals living with TBI-related disabilities. About 75% of patients diagnosed with TBI are classified as mTBI, which can be difficult to diagnose, as history is often incomplete and symptoms are nonspecific and overlap with a broad range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Although most patients with mTBI make a full recovery, as many as 20% do not. These are the patients that Rebion is ultimately focused on helping. Individuals who experience multiple mTBI are at increased risk of persistent post-injury symptoms and long-term complications, including serious sequelae such as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Simple interventions such as removing the patient from risky environments may prevent these complications by allowing time for the brain to heal and preventing further injury. Grant support is being requested to support a human-subject study which will compare the Rebion device to a battery of clinical tests – blood biomarkers and neurocognitive assessments – in participants suspected of TBI. Pilot data collected to-date shows promise that this rapid, non-invasive method can serve a useful purpose in the patient’s journey through TBI.