News Release

For Immediate Release -- January 31, 2013

USAMRMC Signs Cooperative Agreement to Further Develop Brain-Stimulation Device

Fort Detrick, Md. -- U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) will sign an agreement Feb. 8 with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the NeuroHabilitation Corporation regarding a non-invasive brain stimulation device called PoNS™ that is being designed to treat balance and gait issues from a variety of causes, such as traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis and vestibular disorders.

Montel Williams, a celebrity and military veteran who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1999, will represent the NeuroHabilitation Corporation, a company created with his support, at the signing of the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) taking place at Fort Detrick, Md. at 8:00 a.m. in Bldg. 693, room 1E-200. Media are invited to attend the signing and introductory remarks. A closed working meeting will follow.

"This exciting agreement leverages a unique private-public partnership," said Col. Dallas Hack, director of the USAMRMC Combat Casualty Care Research Program. "By collaborating with University of Wisconsin-Madison and NeuroHabilitation Corporation, we maximize our resources to explore a potential real-world treatment for injured service members and civilians with a variety of health conditions."

Under the CRADA agreement, USAMRMC will further evaluate the device and seek Food and Drug Administration clearance, which is required before the device can be used in patients.

Media who would like to attend the signing must RSVP via USAMRMC Public Affairs. Contact Ellen Crown at jennifer.e.crown@amedd.army.mil by Thurs., Feb. 7, at noon.

Media must provide:

• Contact information for all media who plan to attend
• Interview requests (please submit prior to event)

ABOUT USAMRMC: As the Army's medical materiel developer, USAMRMC focuses on medical research, development and acquisition, and medical logistics management. USAMRMC headquarters is located at Fort Detrick, Md., and supports 12 subordinate commands and 6 executive agencies located throughout the world. http://mrmc.amedd.army.mil/

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