Washington University in St. Louis Receives Funding for New Brain Imaging Technology
21-Jan-2007
Investment Firm, Allied Minds, Creates Spinout Company at University of Washington University in St. Louis
Boston, Massachusetts – Allied Minds, a seed investment firm specializing in early-stage university business ventures, has teamed with Washington University in St. Louis to form Cephalogics, LLC, an optical imaging company. Cephalogics will develop a new high-density diffuse optical tomography system specifically geared for use in assessing the functional status of the brains of infants during treatment in neonatal intensive care units.
Compared to infants born full term, premature infants are particularly vulnerable to developing brain-related disabilities. Early detection of altered brain development and function is important for the care of preterm infants.
“If clinical testing proves our estimation of effectiveness, the new brain imaging system will aid in therapy and care of neonates in intensive care by indicating which areas of the brain are injured and by monitoring the brain’s response to interventions” said inventor Joseph Culver, Ph.D., an assistant professor of radiology at the University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Culver’s group has been working on the technology at Washington University for three years.
Diffuse optical tomography is a new computational imaging approach that uses multiple light sources and detectors to create an image from light diffusion. The technology is noninvasive, mobile for easy bedside imaging and can continuously monitor brain blood volume and oxygenation.
“It has the potential to fill a ‘functional’ gap in the neurologic imaging repertoire currently available to neonatal clinicians,” Culver said.
Chris Silva, Allied Minds CEO, added, “It is gratifying to be involved with a technology that will bring some measure of comfort to children and families.”
Allied Minds initially is investing $500,000 to develop a prototype and begin preliminary testing. More funding will follow as the technology progresses.
About Allied Minds, Inc.
Allied Minds is a seed investment company that creates partnerships with key universities to fund corporate spinouts resulting from successful early-stage technology research. By providing corporate development support as well as financing, Allied Minds aims to guide early-stage companies to commercial success, thereby generating value for all stakeholders. For additional information, log on to www.alliedminds.com.
For additional information contact;
Chris Silva, CEO
Allied Minds, Inc.
(781) 353-6404
chris.silva@alliedminds.com
Joni Westerhouse
Public Affairs
Washington University School of Medicine
(314) 286-0120
westerhousej@wustl.edu
