Source: gritdaily.com | Repost Duerson Fund 1/16/2023 –
While we shine a spotlight on the sacrifices of our brave military on Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, for those of us working in the biotechnology community, the military spotlight never dims.
The crucible of war and caring for injured combat veterans drives innovation in medical science with many innovations that we consider commonplace today born from the brunt of battlefield combat. Consider the World War I veterans who returned home with horrendous facial injuries, who were treated by doctors – now known as plastic or cosmetic surgeons – who restored form and function in wounded soldiers. The next frontier of medicine to help paralyzed soldiers gain mobility and overcome traumatic brain injuries is here and the biotech community is working tirelessly to rise to the challenge and deliver innovations to truly thank these brave men and women for their service.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “more than 450,000 U.S. service members were diagnosed with a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) from 2000 to 2021 and millions more are suffering from the residual effects of less severe TBIs. Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs) are estimated to affect between 249,000 and 363,000 Americans, with about 17,730 new injuries occurring each year. About 80% of people with new injuries are males, and roughly 42,000 people with SCIs are Veterans,” reports the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.