Sparta Science Awarded U.S. Air Force Small Business Innovation Research Phase I Contract: Measuring The Effects Of Cumulative Sub-Concussive Brain Injury

Menlo Park, CA –  Sparta Science, the developer of a scalable, machine learning-based movement health platform, was recently awarded an AFWERX Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I contract by the United States Air Force to identify early biomarkers of cumulative sub-concussive brain injury. This award is significant because it will allow Sparta Science to develop the capability to identify objectively when Airmen are negatively affected by cumulative exposure to repetitive subconcussive blasts to quantify the problem and reduce long-term health impacts.

Sparta Science is actively collaborating with the Department of Defense on multiple SBIR Phase I and Phase II projects to improve warfighter readiness by modifying Sparta Science's commercially successful movement health intelligence platform to meet several USAF use cases. These initiatives will explore opportunities to enhance clinicians' and practitioners' abilities to deliver effective movement health guidance at a scale relevant to the USAF. 

Under this award, Sparta Science will explore R&D partnerships with Conventional and Special Warfare units and transition/acquisition strategies with program offices to ensure the successful transition of Sparta’s subconcussive brain injury identification capabilities.

"Research shows up to 57 percent of Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries (mTBIs) are unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated, partly due to an often sub-concussive nature," said Dr. Phil Wagner, CEO and Founder of Sparta Science. "Airmen and healthcare providers will benefit from Sparta Science’s development of data-driven decision-assist information using force plates to measure individuals’ balance and rapidly identify cumulative subconcussive brain injury (CSBI) and ensure early intervention occurs.”

Implementing this technology across the DoD could increase the identification of cumulative sub-concussive brain injury, reduce lost duty days due to TBI, and mitigate the long-term effects of these insidious injuries by enabling earlier intervention. 

Read the press release on Market Watch

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