BRAINI will assess the performance of an automated blood test that can be used to prevent unnecessary CT brain scans for patients with a mild traumatic brain injury. The blood test measures two brain-specific proteins that are known to be elevated in patients who have intracranial lesions.

Because radiation from Computed Tomography (CT) brain scans exposes patients to a risk of cancer, unnecessary scans should be avoided. Mild traumatic brain injury, a frequent cause of admission to hospital emergency departments, is notoriously difficult to manage and assess, so clinicians need objective tools to determine whether patients require a CT brain scan. BRAINI answers this unmet need with a blood-based diagnostic solution that can prevent unnecessary CT scans.

Team

The BRAINI project consists of a transversal consortium coming from France and Spain, including an industrial partner specialist of in-vitro diagnostics (bioMérieux), and two reference clinical centres with traumatic brain injury expertise, a good patient recruitment rate and clinical trial experience: Grenoble Alpes University and Servicio Madrileño de Salud.

The BRAINI project aims to evaluate an automated blood test measuring two brain-specific proteins that occur in elevated levels in patients showing intracranial lesions on a CT brain scan. The test will improve current clinical assessment of mild traumatic brain injury by reducing unnecessary CT scans, and the associated risk of cancer, while improving overall emergency department workflow.

BRAINI will establish a strong clinical study, in order to register the diagnostic test in Europe, so that clinicians can use it to rule out the need to perform a CT scan in patients after mild traumatic brain injury. BRAINI will also assess the prognostic value of the two brain biomarkers to detect patients at risk of neurologic worsening.

With EIT-Health support, BRAINI will produce the critical data required to translate the blood test into a solution that is well-adapted to clinical needs and the constraints of hospital emergency departments. The project will show how the test adds value to current practices and will prepare the inclusion of the blood test into future guidelines.

Impact for citizens:

• Fewer CT brain scans, which bring radiation exposure
• Fewer hospital admissions following mild traumatic brain injury
• Shorter stays in the hospital emergency department
• Earlier identification of patients at risk of neurologic worsening

Impact on healthcare systems:

• Objective tool for mild traumatic brain injury assessment
• Standardisation of care
• Workflow improvement

Impact on health economy:

• Cost-savings on the hospital and health system level

Why this is an EIT Health project

The BRAINI project is in keeping with the EIT Health Focus Area of improving Care Pathways because it allows doctors to reduce unnecessary and potentially harmful CT brain scans. It also promises better care by allowing for an improved workflow at hospitals.