Bioscience company tackles brain trauma diagnosis through blood tests

Researchers at Banyan Biomarkers work in their Alachua facilities to develop improved methods of diagnozing traumatic brain injuries.

ALACHUA – Speeding up the diagnosis of traumatic brain injuries is the focus of an Alachua-based bioscience company.

Banyan Biomarkers works to develop and commercialize biomarkers to accurately and quickly diagnose traumatic brain injuries. It has made progress in developing and clinically validating novel enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for traumatic brain injury.

The company’s research has identified unique biomarkers present in a patient’s blood following injury to the brain. The detection and quantification of these biomarkers may provide early indications of brain trauma essential for earlier intervention and management.

Approximately 1.7 million people are treated and released from an emergency room as result of traumatic brain injury, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Common causes of injury are automobile accidents, falls, sports-related injuries and assaults.

The company resides in Progress Corporate Park at 13400 Progress Blvd. along with more than 30 other bioscience and technology companies due to its proximity to the University of Florida.

“We work closely with UF, and many of our employees have UF affiliation,” said Banyan Biomarkers CEO Jackson Streeter.

Banyan Biomarkers was founded in 2002 by Ron Hayes, Kevin Wang and Nancy Denslow at the McKnight Brain Institute at UF. Its goal was to create the first point of care blood test, a blood test at or near the site of patient care, to diagnose traumatic brain injuries.

Currently no blood test exists for use by physicians to detect the presence and severity of brain trauma.

Located within the city of Alachua, the company has created more than 30 jobs within the community and contributes to several area charities.

“We support Tyler’s Hope, Heroes of Military Medicine, Wounded Warrior project and have an annual scholarship for disadvantaged youth interested in a career in science or medicine,” Streeter said.

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