Organization profile

The Center for Injury Biomechanics, Materials and Medicine (CIBM3) is a multi- and interdisciplinary research center focused on understanding, diagnosing and treating brain injuries and concussions using experimental and computational methods. The CIBM3 is involved in both traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major concern among U.S. soldiers and veterans, and mild TBI and concussion in sports injuries, which also raise serious health concerns. Specifically, through novel blast-tube and drop-tower facilities, we examine what type of helmets, pads and configurations offer the right protection for soldiers and players. We study when and how concussions are caused and if there are simple diagnostic methods to identify concussions. We use animal models and mechanical surrogates to examine the role of blast pressures and the height of falls to relate injury to medical outcomes. Some of our recently funded efforts include examining the effect of blast overpressures on the dose-response curve of animal models and research into the mechanisms of blast-induced brain injury. In yet another project, we use experimental methods to study the effect of eyewear and hearing protection on the TBI susceptibility of warfighters. Namas Chandra, Bryan Pfister, and James Haorah, along with other colleagues from NJIT, medical schools, and Veterans Administration facilities take a holistic approach to offer new measurement techniques, diagnostics, and prognostic tools to address sports injuries and military medicine.