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Temple gets $20 million for research on preventing traumatic brain injury

Temple University will receive $20 million from the U.S. Army Research lab for research on a new class of materials that will provide better protection against brain injury.

The research will look at ways to make materials stronger and more flexible to protect against impact and explore the effects of repetitive stress as it relates to brain injury, said Michele M. Masucci, Temple's vice president for research.

Researchers also will study ways to improve protection against ballistics impact.


It's one of Temple's largest research awards over such a short period of time, Masucci said. The work will be conducted by an interdisciplinary team over two years with help from other universities, including the University of Southern California, University of Southern Mississippi and the University of North Texas.

While the research will help better protect soldiers, it also has broader implications, Masucci said.

"There's wide applicability for society," she said, "whether we're talking about law enforcement or athletes, anything where impact might come to bear."


"We hope to dramatically improve the safety of individuals at risk for traumatic brain injury," she said.

Masucci said the research will look at the kinds of injuries that occur from blasts and how to minimize the impact.


In addition to Masucci, others on the research team include: College of Science and Technology Dean Michael L. Klein; John Perdew, professor of physics and chemistry; Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Neurovirology T. Dianne Langford and Associate Professor of Kinesiology Ryan Tierney. Additional Temple faculty from medicine, engineering, science and technology, and public health, as well as a representative from athletics will be involved, according to the university.