Kessler Foundation Sweeps Traumatic Brain Research Grants

2011-03-18 09:07:39 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Foundation Awarded Four Grants Totaling $968,000

August 3, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Kessler Foundation Sweeps State Traumatic Brain Injury Research GrantsWEST ORANGE, N.J.The New Jersey Commission for Brain Injury Research (NJCBIR), based in the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS), awarded four grants to Kessler Foundation Research Center, totaling $968,761.

In the announcement, Rodger DeRose, President and Chief Executive Officer of Kessler Foundation, said, "Receiving all four grants from the NJCBIR is an honor and confirms Kessler Foundation's leadership in traumatic brain injury research. We look forward to the results of these studies to improve the lives of people with traumatic brain injuries."

According to NJCBIR, 175,000 NJ residents have disabilities caused by traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Approximately 12,000-15,000 new cases of TBI are diagnosed each year in NJ 1,000 are fatal. NJCBIR encourages large and original research projects to find a cure or treatment for people with TBI through grant distribution.

"By funding high-quality research projects, the Commission provides hope to the tens of thousands of New Jerseyans and families who must deal with the debilitating effects of traumatic brain injury," said Health and Senior Services Commissioner Dr. Poonam Alaigh. "The Commission is committed to working with the research community to find new treatments and possible cures for these devastating injuries."

Anthony Lequerica, Ph.D. received a $97,206 grant to study the effect of Rozerem on the sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and fatigue in people with TBI. Rozerem, a sleep aid commonly used for treating insomnia, will be examined for its effectiveness in individuals with TBI to improve sleep and, therefore, improve daytime functioning. This pilot study, entitled, "The Effect of Rozerem on Sleep Disturbance after Traumatic Brain Injury," will last two years.

Glenn Wylie, D.Phil., received a $374,288 grant for a three-year study called, "Examination of Cognitive Fatigue in Traumatic Brain Injury Using fMRI." This study will analyze images of the brain while performing thinking and learning tasks. Wylie will look for changes in brain images when the individuals doing the tasks show fatigue.

Jean Lengenfelder, Ph.D., was awarded two NJCBIR grants. The first is a two-year pilot project, entitled, "Aging in Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study of Cognitive and Cerebral Profiles." She received $148,275 to evaluate aging people with TBI using behavioral studies and neuroimaging. The results will show how behaviors are affected as well as how the brain changes as individuals with TBI age.

Lengenfelder's second study, "Examining Apathy, Depression, and Executive Functions in Individuals with TBI," received a $348,992 grant. This three-year study will examine common effects of a TBI, such as the lack of motivation to engage in tasks, depression and the ability to perform activities in sequences, solve problems, plan and analyze situations. Participants will undergo neuropsychological assessments and researchers will look at images of their brains, using fMRI, to monitor parts of the brain that are active when performing various tasks.

"These research grants are designed to help us better understand the brain mechanisms involved with various problems, such as the cognitive, fatigue and emotional difficulties that persons with TBI experience after their injury, with the hope of ultimately improving clinical care," said John DeLuca, Ph.D., Vice President for Research of Kessler Foundation.

All grant applications sent to NJCBIR are reviewed by three panels. The administrative review committee checks the applications for completeness, accuracy and the projects adherence to NJ laws. The Independent Relevance Review Panel determines if the proposed project reflects the mission and research guidelines of NJCBIR. If it passes, the Independent Scientific Merit Review Panel assigns points to applications in which the study results will make a significant contribution to brain injury research.

About Kessler Foundation

Kessler Foundation strives to be a leader in rehabilitation research and grant making that benefit people with disabilities. The Foundation's mission is to improve quality of life for people with physical and/or cognitive disabilities through discovery, innovation, demonstration, application, and dissemination. Kessler Foundation Research Center conducts research that improves function and quality of life for persons with injuries of the spinal cord and brain, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, TBI and other chronic neurological and orthopedic conditions. Kessler Foundation also supports programs that promote the employment of people with disabilities through its Program Center's Transition to Work" Signature and Community Employment Grants. The Foundation's Special Initiative Grants support educational programs like ThinkFirst, an injury prevention program aimed at children and teens. Kessler Foundation has a full-time staff of 90 individuals, divided between two locations in West Orange, New Jersey.

For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org

Kessler Foundation Contact:

Lauren Scrivo

973-243-6995