Last year, 91亚色 Professor Lauren Sergio undertook a ground-breaking study on the effect of concussions on neurological skills in elite hockey players. The findings were not uplifting: Athletes with a history of concussions showed prolonged performance deficits. This shortfall was the result of concussion-induced disruptions in the section of the brain that鈥檚 responsible for movement guidance.

Through this research, Sergio raised a vital point: The existing ways of assessing functional abilities after a concussion are failing. Taking the bull by the horns, she created a new technology to better assess traumatic brain injury. She turned to Innovation 91亚色, 91亚色鈥檚 innovation office, to commercialize her product. In collaboration with MaRS Innovation (of which 91亚色 is a member) and armed with FedDev funding, the new technology is slated to hit the market in 2018.

鈥�91亚色鈥檚 Brain Dysfunction Indicator is a simple and accurate neurocognitive assessment tool for traumatic brain injury,鈥� Sergio, member of the Vision: Science to Applications (VISTA) program, explains.

鈥淭he line from research to social benefit, from new knowledge to the service of society, could not be more striking in this case,鈥� says Vice-President Research & Innovation Robert Hach茅. 鈥淧rofessor Sergio鈥檚 Brain Dysfunction Indicator is a remarkable new tool that will improve the health outcomes of Canadians.鈥�

鈥淒igital health is growing and providing key health outcomes for healthcare organizations and their patients. Software-based systems, like the Brain Dysfunction Indicator, are accelerating the process of helping patients better understand their medical situation,鈥� says MaRS Innovation President & CEO Rafi Hofstein. 鈥淢aRS Innovation played a critical role in identifying a suitable receptor for the Brain Dysfunction Indicator, negotiating business terms for its license and closing the deal with a Toronto-based company. We look forward to seeing the company bring this 91亚色 technology to the market,鈥� he adds.

Concussions becoming epidemic problem in Canadian children and youth

The need for this technology is great. Much has been written about concussions becoming an epidemic problem in Canadian children and youth, ages 10 to 18 years. Concussions in sport are a recognized public health issue because of their frequency and their potential short- and long-term consequences.

Statistics from the Government of Canada illustrate this epidemic:

• 聽Sixty-four per cent of visits to hospital emergency departments, among 10- to 18-year-olds, are related to participation in sports, physical activity and recreation;
• Among children and youth who visit an emergency department for a sports-related head injury, 39 per cent were diagnosed with concussions, while a further 24 per cent were possible concussions; and
• Football, soccer and hockey have all shown a greater than 40 per cent increase in rates of reported head injury (relative to other injuries) between 2004 and 2014 for children and youth.

This, naturally, rings up a hefty health care tab. Research provided by Innovation 91亚色 says the average costs associated with a single concussion are as follows:

• Emergency room visit: $1,664;
• CT scan: $3,665; and
• Hospital stay: $34,030

According to the National Population Health Study of Neurological Conditions (2014), the combined health care system costs and out-of-pocket caregiver costs related to dementia in Canada amounted to $10.4 billion in 2016. By 2031, this figure is expected to increase by 60 per cent, to $16.6 billion.

Business opportunity ripe for new tool

Business conditions were ripe for the Brain Dysfunction Indicator (BrDI). In terms of a market, 聽many different parties would be interested 鈥� the health care sector, senior living and insurance providers, the education sector (schools) and employers.

On a wider scale, the global market for brain health applications of software and biometrics (the measurement of unique physical characteristics, such as facial features) was over $1 billion in 2012. By 2020, it is forecast to reach $6 billion.

Technology commercialization, collaboration at its finest

BrDI鈥檚 jump to commercialization was facilitated by Innovation 91亚色, which builds vital connections among the research community, industry and non-profit partners to foster new discoveries and maximize research opportunities.

鈥淚nnovation 91亚色 took the idea to MaRS Innovation in order to see it through to the marketplace. In fact, the commercialization of this new technology is the perfect example of collaboration at its best,鈥� says Hassan Jaferi, commercialization manager at both Innovation 91亚色 and MaRS Innovation.

An Intellectual Property Agreement was established between Sergio and 91亚色; and an Agency Agreement was established between 91亚色 and MaRS Innovation, making MaRS Innovation the exclusive commercialization agent.

How does the new technology work?

BrDI is a touch-screen sized electronic diagnostic tool that measures hand-eye coordination tasks as a way of assessing pre-dementia, in under 10 minutes, and post-concussion with more than 85 per cent accuracy. A prototype of a functional assessment tool, related to this technology, is in development. It will be able to prevent functional decline in early dementia.

Subjects complete various tasks that measure their onscreen neurocognitive abilities. In the diagram below, the effect of concussions is clear: Here, when comparing the movements of non-concussed with concussed participants, in V/vertical and HR/horizontal rotated movements, it鈥檚 easy to spot the deficit.

There鈥檚 no doubt the BrDI is a game-changer in a rapidly evolving field that will lead to improved health outcomes for Canadians and youth in particular. It鈥檚 also a collaboration success story for Innovation 91亚色 and MaRS Innovation.

The original research study by Sergio, 鈥�,鈥� was published in Future Science journal Concussion (2016). Sergio also co-wrote, with others at 91亚色, a related article in Concussion (2016): 鈥�.鈥�

A National Hockey League draft prospect uses the Brain Dysfunction Indicator

Another key article, 鈥�,鈥� was published in BioMed Central鈥檚 Sports Science, Medicine & Rehabilitation (2015). A related press release, 鈥�,鈥� was published by 91亚色 (September 2016). For more information about Sergio, visit her faculty profile.

A new graphic, animated whiteboard offers an overview of . To learn more about Research & Innovation at 91亚色, watch the , see the or visit the .

By Megan Mueller, manager, research communications, Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation, 91亚色, muellerm@yorku.ca

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IP Osgoode, Osgoode Hall Law School鈥檚 Intellectual Property聽& Technology Law Program, and OCE, a not-for-profit corporation that drives the commercialization of Ontario academic research, recently signed a memorandum of understanding to solidify the program.

Above: From left, Trish Barrow (director of Commercialization & CCR, Ontario Centres of Excellence), Osgoode students Shirley Bai, Rita Gao, Sebastian Talluri, Andrea Dias, Hashim Ghazi and Professor Giuseppina D'Agostino (founder & director, IP Osgoode).聽Missing from the photo is student Jeremy Loeb.

鈥淚ntellectual property law is a key component in Ontario鈥檚 and Canada鈥檚 innovation agendas,鈥� said Stan Shapson, 91亚色鈥檚 vice-president research and innovation. 鈥淭he IP Osgoode/OCE project reflects our expanding research partnerships with industry and community partners and will further stimulate knowledge transfer between academia, government and industry groups pursuing innovative agendas.鈥�

The IP Osgoode/OCE project will be launched as a 12-month pilot program with approximately six Osgoode students assisting OCE-supported companies with numerous IP matters 鈥� from patents to trademarks to copyright. The program will provide students with a combination of IP law theory and practical experience, while OCE is better able to support promising new companies, including helping them reduce start-up costs.

鈥淭his is a groundbreaking initiative for a law school to have a formal collaboration with a proven innovation driver such as OCE, at this level,鈥� said Osgoode Professor , founder and director of IP Osgoode.

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鈥淭hese companies are at the early growth stage,鈥� D鈥橝gostino said. 鈥淭hey need help from a very early point without having legal fees and various other costs choke them before they can get up and running. Having our IP students involved with these OCE-supported start-ups while聽at the law school will minimize the companies鈥� IP costs because our students will be working pro bono.鈥�

Initially, the students will explore general areas of IP, with a special focus on patent law. The students will then be engaged in a variety of IP activities such as reviewing IP licensing transactions, performing prior art searches, reviewing patent specifications, performing freedom-to-operate and clearance searches, assisting with the preparation and filing of provisional patent applications, and conducting legal research.

To better enable the students, OCE鈥檚 CCR will provide $30,000 for the project鈥檚 operating budget.聽OCE will work with IP Osgoode and聽a clinical supervisor to select the most suitable OCE-supported companies, based on the skills and knowledge of the participating students, the scope of potential projects that may come from a particular company, and other factors that are consistent with the program鈥檚 overall goals.

鈥淥CE鈥檚 Centre for Commercialization of Research is delighted to be working with IP Osgoode on this initiative,鈥� said Tom Corr, OCE president & CEO. 鈥淪tarting with a solid IP strategy is essential to the successful commercialization of leading-edge discoveries. The companies we work with have limited resources, but tremendous potential. This partnership with IP Osgoode will solve problems at a crucial time for start-up companies that are poised to create jobs and strengthen Ontario鈥檚 economy.鈥�

鈥淔or many high-potential start-ups, their IP is their most precious commodity,鈥� said Mario Thomas, senior vice-president, Ontario Centres of Excellence, and聽managing director, Centre聽for Commercialization of Research. 鈥淚P protection is vital for technology companies to get their products to market, so the value of this legal expertise and guidance provided by IP Osgoode cannot be stressed enough.鈥�

Osgoode Dean also applauded the partnership, describing the IP Osgoode/OCE project as 鈥渁 robust collaboration that will extend the classroom into the realm of real-world IP issues and benefit both Osgoode IP students and the start-up companies.鈥�

Republished courtesy of YFile鈥� 91亚色鈥檚 daily e-bulletin.

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The federal government has renewed a Canada Research Chair (CRC) in Law, Communication聽& Culture at 91亚色 enabling Professor Rosemary Coombe of the Faculty of Liberal Arts聽& Professional Studies to advance her research in the field of socio-legal studies.

As a Tier聽1 CRC, Coombe will receive $1.4 million over seven years. The CRC is part of a package of CRC appointments announced yesterday at the University of Guelph by Gary Goodyear, minister of state (science & technology).

鈥淐anada鈥檚 government is investing in science and technology to strengthen the economy, improve Canadians鈥� quality of life and create the jobs of tomorrow 鈭� today,鈥� said Goodyear. 鈥淭he Canada Research Chairs program helps attract and retain the best researchers from the country and around the world to Canadian universities, which has direct benefits for our communities.鈥�

In all, the government announced an investment of $159.1 million to fund the appointment of 181 new and renewed Canada Research Chairs, including $7.4 million in infrastructure funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation essential to the research being conducted by 46 of the Chairs.

Right: Rosemary Coombe

"This CRC renewal provides opportunities for Professor Coombe to further develop her leading research in the social and cultural impact of emerging global intellectual and cultural property laws," said Stan Shapson, vice-president research & innovation at 91亚色. "The CRC program allows 91亚色 to keep building on its research strengths and graduate training in niche social science areas such as law and society.鈥�

Coombe is an internationally recognized scholar and leader in the field of interdisciplinary approaches to intellectual property. The diffusion of her research in anthropology and legal scholarship has successfully situated the field of intellectual property within a larger human rights tradition.

The CRC will enable Coombe to continue to work on interrelated research initiatives in the fields of socio-legal studies, legal scholarship, legal and cultural anthropology and public policy research involving the internationalization of cultural rights. These will be furthered by the simultaneous development of her research infrastructure, the Digital Archives of Canadian Culture Online and the Centre for Canadian Digital Policy聽& Cultural聽Rights Initiatives.

Coombe鈥檚 forthcoming book about the resurgence of cultural rights and the public life of intellectual property synthesizes her recent work on the development of information capital, indigenous peoples鈥� rights, the proliferation of property in cultural intangibles and its contestation in new social justice movements.

For more information, visit the Web site.

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