MRIs, CT scans and the like “don't travel well,” notes Adam Simon. So Cerora, the Bethlehem startup he co-founded with David M. Devilbiss in 2011, is developing the first portable, objective, accurate and affordable diagnostic tool to quickly assess and diagnose brain disease or injury.
Non-specialists in the field can use Cerora's device to assess an individual through a battery of tests: an electroencephalogram (EEG) verbal tasks, cognitive, balance and stability measures, etc. Data is transmitted via the cloud to be interpreted by a doctor who will generate a report back within, the goal is, 15 to 20 minutes. The system has myriad applications, says Simon, including first responders, gyms, football fields, nursing homes, ski clinics, combat frontlines and even in physicians' and pediatricians' offices for routine physicals and the inevitable bumped heads of childhood.
Cerora already has data on the effectiveness of its technology for assessing Alzheimer's Disease and concussions and Simon anticipates broader applications including Parkinson's, sleep disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Eight clinical trials are underway with providers including Lehigh University's sports medicine program and Philadelphia's Rothman Institute.
Cerora recently received its first external funding, a $50,000 loan from Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania and moved operations to Ben Franklin TechVentures at Lehigh University. The company is now actively working to raise $1.25 million through venture or angel investors in order to re-engineer its device. From there, Simon estimates, it's one year to FDA clearance and commercialization, hopefully in 2014.
For now the company has two full-timers and five part-timers and Simon hopes to add another two or three part-timers.
Source: Adam Simon, Cerora
Writer: Elise Vider