Showcase 2008: With $9 Million NIH/NIBIB Grant, UC Researchers Seek Collaborations to Develop Patient Point-of-Care Technologies

University of Cincinnati Showcase 2008 — Partner with UC to Go from Invention to Intervention

UC's Showcase 2008 is set to run 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, March 7, 2008, in Tangeman University Center. Showcase is a service to the region’s business community. In one place at one time, it offers a look at the best of UC’s first-rate research with proven commercialization success or great partnership potential. Over 100 exhibits and demonstrations of emerging technologies and research will be on hand – along with the researchers behind these cutting-edge efforts. One such exhibit will feature UC's efforts to develop Point-of-Care Technologies as outlined below. 

Time Is Brain
Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the United States. This, and other neurologic emergencies, can quickly lead to irreversible brain damage. Finding ways to identify or rule out neurologic emergencies quickly is critical for preventing further injury.

University of Cincinnati (UC) researchers from the colleges of engineering and medicine have been awarded a $9 million, five-year grant to develop technologies geared toward early detection of neurologic emergencies. The award funds the Point-of-Care Center for Emerging Neuro Technologies (POC-CENT) — a resource hub for researchers at UC and across the country in need of help with any stage of technology development.

From Invention to Intervention
“The focus of POC-CENT will be to nurture the development of technologies to improve the diagnosis of and response to neurodiseases and neurodisorders using point-of-care devices, whether at the bedside or in the operating room — wherever diagnosis or treatment is needed,” says Fred Beyette, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering and principal investigator (PI) for the project.  The National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) grant is intended to stimulate business in the community as well. The center will be structured to bring ideas from conception to development of a prototype ready for clinical testing.

“The UC center is dedicated to the development of technologies that will dramatically improve the care and health of the neurologic patient by providing fast and reliable information about the biological events occurring in this patient population,” says Joseph Clark, professor of neurology in UC’s College of Medicine and co-principal investigator (Co-PI) of the overall grant.

The grant covers five core areas, each with its own principle investigator, truly representing a multidisciplinary team:

• Core 1, In-house Clinical Testing, will be overseen by PI Fred Beyette and Co-PI Joseph Broderick.
• Core 2, Exploratory Project Selection and Support, will be overseen by PI Phillip Wilsey and Co-PI Daniel Kanter.
• Core 3, Clinical Needs Assessment and Dissemination Activities, will be overseen by PI Raj Narayan and Co-PI Edward Jauch.
• Core 4, Translational Training and Cross-Disciplinary Education, will be overseen by PI Mary Beth Privitera and Co-PI Arthur Pancioli.
• Core 5, Administrative Functions, will be overseen by PI Joseph Clark and Co-PI Dorothy Air.
• The advisory committee is composed of Anne Chasser, Carlo Montemagno and Robert Rosenberger.

Beyette and Clark say that the center will be ramping up activities over the coming weeks and will soon be issuing a national call for proposals. They have been in communication with state and federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Defense, to identify ways to improve the treatment and diagnosis of traumatic  brain injuries. 

News of POC-CENT was highlighted locally (Cincinnati Business Courier ), nationally (Medical News Today) and internationally (FirstScience). The center was also featured in NIBIB’s October newsletter.

More news about POC-CENT 

Visit the Showcase 2008 site.

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