5 Ideas Win $10K Each in Ohio Opioid Science Challenge

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Virtual reality, neural feedback and digital therapy were among five ideas to help solve the U.S. opioid crisis that won a global technology challenge in Ohio on Tuesday. Winners were selected from hundreds of ideas submitted by researchers, caregivers, service providers and individuals from Ohio, other states and nine countries. Each will receive $10,000 to take their idea to the next phase. The $8 million Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge is modeled after the Head Health competition launched by the NFL, Under Armour and GE to address traumatic brain injuries sustained playing football. It's part of a two-pronged strategy Ohio is pursuing the deadly epidemic tied to prescription painkillers. It has also awarded $10 million in research-and-development grants. Besides the top prizes awarded to ideas with the highest likelihood of success, 40 runners-up — 20 civilians and 20 technical professionals or experts — will be entered into a drawing to win $500 cash prizes. The efforts, spearheaded by Republican Gov. John Kasich, come in a state among the hardest hit by the deadly opioid epidemic. There were 4,050 overdose deaths in Ohio in 2016, many linked to heroin and synthetic opioids like fentanyl. Winner were: — Judson Brewer (Worcester, Massachusetts): For a digital therapy centered on the psychological theory of mindfulness, which will extend ideas contained in his nationally-known Craving to Quit program to opioid addiction; — Kinametechs LLC (C...
Source: JEMS Patient Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Patient Care News Source Type: news