SRI to Help BARDA Screen for Radiation Exposure; David Cooper Comments

SRI International has received a $12.2 million contract from the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority to extend the company’s work on the development of a screening device for radiation exposure.

David Cooper, director of the sensor systems laboratory at SRI, worked with DCN Diagnostics, Evolve Manufacturing and Stanford University’s School of Medicine five years ago to develop a radiation biodosimeter designed to sort individuals who need treatment for radiation exposure, SRI said Thursday.

“At this point, there is nothing else like it that takes a sample from an individual and assesses whether they have absorbed ionizing radiation or not,” said Cooper.

“Our goal is to develop a quick and simple point-of-care medical device that the government, first responders, hospitals and doctors can use in the field to determine a person’s absorbed dose of ionizing radiation,” he added.

The test method works to take blood samples from humans in order to determine the dose of radiation after a radiological incident.

“Because our test actually measures biological response to radiation rather than a physical radiation dose, the information obtained is very important,” said Cooper.