AxoGen, a medical device company that develops peripheral nerve repair technology is splitting a $1.1 million grant from government medical research program with Vanderbilt University. The grant comes from the U.S. Department of Defense-administered Congressional Directed Medical Research program, specifically the Peer Reviewed Orthopedic Research Program to develop medical technologies to help soldiers recover from military conflicts.
The grant will support the development and expansion of nerve regeneration technologies. The program at Vanderbilt Medical School will be led by Dr. Wesley Thayer, an assistant professor at Vanderbilt University’s Department of Plastic Surgery and Curt Deister of AxoGen.
AxoGen has three cleared nerve repair technologies on the market. Its Avance Nerve Graft is used to bridge gaps in peripheral nerves with grafts sourced from human donors. Its Nerve Protector is used to wrap and isolate nerve tissue during healing. Its Nerve Connector is used to approximate nerve endings.
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In financial year 2013, the orthopedic research program allocated $30 million for grants. In financial year 2011, improving limb injuries using nerve repair was one of three areas where funding was allocated. It also funded the prevention and treatment of post-traumatic osteoarthritis and the development of a modular, interoperable prosthetic wrist.
The Congressional Directed Medical Research program provided nearly $500 million in financial year 2012 with $30 million allocated for orthopedic research grants.
[Photo from Flickr user Virginia Guard Public Affairs]
