Turku, Finland -- (SBWire) -- 04/24/2017 --Every time when a professional football player makes headlines because of a severe concussion sustained on the playing field, a researcher and neurobiologist Dr. Adrian Harel is reminded of the urgent need for more effective protocols to diagnose and treat traumatic brain injury (TBI). Dr. Harel and his team are intensely pursuing breakthrough rapid diagnostic test and treatments for TBI with a new class of drugs. "What so many people fail to realize is that even if a player isn't thrown into a coma or vegetative state by the injury, TBI can have long-lasting effects that may ultimately end in tragedy." Dr. Harel says.
Sports-related TBI among professional athletes is a serious problem. In the US alone, there are annually more than 300,000 cases where athletes are suffering from concussion and TBIs that result in loss of consciousness. When one includes mild concussions (MTBI), the number of cases multiplies into millions. Even one minor concussion can lead to long-term neurodegeneration.
Players suffer memory problems, early-onset dementia, or even, in some rare cases, post-traumatic Parkinsonism. In addition, the general consensus among medical experts is that erratic and aggressive or even violent behavior are tied to a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which can result from repeated hits to the head.
Moreover, the economic burden and responsibility of the TBI in sports is debated. In January 2014, a federal judge called into question a $765 million settlement by the National Football League (NFL) that would have paid individual players up to $5 million for neurological problems they suffered during their careers. U.S. District Judge Anita Brody voiced concern that the sum was not sufficient to cover all of the injured athletes, particularly as more come forward with injuries.
The medical community is well aware of the importance of early intervention in all forms and degrees of TBI. "We are simply seeing too many of our best athletes [ice-hockey, rugby, football, boxing] permanently brain-damaged," says Dr. Harel, "not to mention the millions of other cases of TBI sustained by people of all ages as a result of vehicle crashes, falls, workplace accidents, and assaults or physical abuse. TBI is a major problem in search of a comprehensive solution. With the research we are doing now, there is finally a light at the end of the tunnel."
Medicortex is seeking investors, together with its crowdfunding campaign. Every interested individual may help the development of the diagnostic kit by participating the crowdfunding campaign at: http://www.invesdor.com/medicortex Medicortex is issuing shares with the goal of raising capital that matches the other half that the firm has already applied for from the Finnish Funding Agency for Innovation (Tekes).
About Medicortex
Medicortex Finland Oy (http://www.medicortex.fi) is a biotechnology company dedicated to improving the diagnostics and treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Its current focus is to develop biomarker diagnostics that evaluate the extent and severity of TBI. Once the company completes this test its next goal will be to develop an innovative drug to halt the progression of brain injury.
Key words: NFL, ice-hockey, rugby, brain injury, head injury, concussion, diagnostics, TBI, sport, professional athletes, boxing, early detection
Media contact:
Dr. Adrian Harel - CEO
Medicortex Finland Oy
Itainen Pitkakatu 4 B, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
Tel. +358 (0) 400488817
adrian.harel@medicortex.fi
http://www.medicortex.fi
