Collaborative efforts at our medical center victorious in securing a $10 million grant for pediatric concussion studies.
A significant project, named CARE4Kids, has been awarded a $10 million grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. The project, led by the University of California, Los Angeles, aims to alleviate suffering and promote maximal recovery for children and teens diagnosed with concussions.
The study, which is a multisite effort, will enroll over 1,300 children and teens nationwide, including an estimated 240 in the Rochester area. Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center are part of this collaborative project.
The focus of the CARE4Kids project is on children between the ages of 11 and 18. The ultimate goal is to develop an algorithm for diagnosing and treating concussions in this age group, which could help kids recover from concussions faster.
Jeffrey Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H., professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center, will lead the Rochester study site. Other key members of the University of Rochester Medical Center team involved in the project include Jonathan W. Mink, M.D., Ph.D., the Frederick A. Horner, M.D. Distinguished Professor in Pediatric Neurology, and Spencer Z. Rosero, M.D., professor and interim chief of Cardiology.
The study will evaluate children with concussions to identify biomarkers that could predict which kids will develop persistent symptoms after a concussion. These biomarkers could potentially help doctors to identify children at risk of prolonged recovery and provide them with tailored treatment plans.
The study also aims to confirm that these identified biomarkers accurately predict prolonged symptoms in a second group of children diagnosed with concussions. This could lead to more accurate diagnoses and effective treatments for concussions in children.
Each year, over 3 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with concussions. Common long-lasting symptoms in children include chronic migraine headaches, learning and memory problems, exercise intolerance, sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depressed mood. Thirty percent of patients continue to experience symptoms three months after injury, with adolescents facing an even higher risk of delayed recovery.
In addition to the University of Rochester Medical Center, the study is also recruiting participants at several other institutions, including UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital, Children's National, Seattle Children's, the University of Washington, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Indiana University, the National Institute of Nursing Research, the University of Arkansas, the University of Southern California, and the University of Utah.
The CARE4Kids project, with its focus on diagnosing and treating concussions in children, could potentially revolutionize the way we approach and manage concussions in this age group, ultimately improving the quality of life for many children and teens.
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