The New Jersey Commission on Brain Injury Research (NJCBIR) today announced the nation's first state-funded grants for traumatic brain injury (TBI) research.  The grants, totaling more than $1.3 million, were awarded to New Jersey scientists and research institutions. 

"We're very proud to be providing the resources needed to move brain injury research forward for the tens of thousands of New Jerseyans and families suffering from its affects," said Department of Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred M. Jacobs, M.D., J.D.  "This initial round of grants is just the first step in marshaling New Jersey's leading medical research community to develop treatments for the effects of TBI."

Each year, between 12,000 and 15,000 people suffer from brain injuries in New Jersey, and approximately 1,000 die as a result.  Nearly 175,000 people in New Jersey are living with disabilities caused by traumatic brain injuries. 

Brain injury knows no racial, ethnic or class bias, but is significantly more prevalent in the aged due to the increased incidence of falls.  The leading causes of such injuries are motor vehicle accidents, falls and assaults. 

"Each of these awards is designed to understand the results of TBI, how to limit further damage and promote recovery and regeneration of injured neural cells," said Dennis Benigno, NJCBIR Executive Director. "These are the types of research agendas that will one day lead to treatments and cures that reverse the effects of TBI."

With the creation of the NJCBIR in January 2004, New Jersey became the first state to allocate a continuing funding source dedicated to finding a cure for brain injuries.  This funding, raised through a $1 surcharge on all traffic violations issued in New Jersey, totals approximately $3.6 million annually. 

Recent research has shown that brain tissue can regenerate, and NJCBIR provides grants and resources to New Jersey scientists working to develop innovative treatments that show promise of repairing the inured brain and developing a cure for traumatic brain injury. 

Grants were awarded to:

• Dr. Bryan J. Pfister, New Jersey Institute of Technology: Develop a new in vitro brain injury model system that provides researchers with tools to better understand and further advance the development of treatments and cures. $144,578
• Dr. Patrizia Cassaccia-Bonnefil, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School: Define the cellular and molecular events that damage neural cells in the months after a brain injury. Advancement of this field will help to develop novel therapies for chronic brain injuries and help to understand long term neurological disabilities resulting from TBI. $300,000
• Dr. HaesumA. Kim, Rutgers University: Determine the effects of brain trauma-mediated axonal injury on dendrites and myelin functions and investigate how myelin affects axonal injury response. Advancement in this field is necessary to develop treatments that prevent disabilities and promote recovery. $299,999
• Dr. Christpher Rongo, Rutgers University: Implement a genetic approach to understand the chemical and molecular reactions associated with brain injury. Knowledge from this basic research can be used to limit damage after brain injury and to target factors that will promote recovery. $299,024
• Dr. John E. Pintar, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School: Determine the role of insulin-like growth factor binding proteins in neuronal survival and neural stem cell proliferation that accompany traumatic brain injury utilizing genetic models. This research will provide insight into neural restoration and potentially lead to more effective treatments for TBI. $300,000

Information on future grant rounds, eligibility and applications is available on the NJBIR web site at www.state.nj.us/health/njcbir/ .

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