Murphy Highlights Norwalk's Q30 Innovations As 'Innovator Of The Month'

HARTFORD-U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) announced that Q30 Innovations, based in Norwalk, was named "Innovator of the Month" for their development of the first and only FDA-cleared device to reduce traumatic brain injury through partial jugular vein compression. The company's flagship product, the Q-Collar, applies light pressure around the neck to increase blood volume in the brain's venous structures, minimizing internal brain movement that can cause brain injury upon collision. The device is backed by research from over 28 independent studies and presents a promising step forward in ongoing efforts to address the rising prevalence of brain injuries among athletes and soldiers. Since fiscal year 2021, Senator Murphy has helped secure over $15 million in federal investment through the Department of Defense to support Q30 in developing this innovative protective device with great promise for improving the health and wellbeing of servicemembers, athletes, and others.

"There's nothing more important than keeping our kids safe, especially when they're playing high-contact sports that put them at risk of brain injury. It was great to visit Q30 Innovations earlier this month to speak with their team and check out their Q-Collar device, a promising piece of equipment that takes a new approach to helping athletes avoid brain trauma. I'm proud to recognize Q30's innovative work, and I look forward to seeing how their up-and-coming device might be used to protect servicemembers and others at risk for TBIs," said Murphy.

"We are honored to be recognized by Senator Murphy for the crucial work we are doing to help protect the brains of athletes and soldiers," said Co-CEO of Q30 Innovations Tom Hoey. "Senator Murphy's recognition and his efforts to make the product more accessible for our soldiers through his work on Capitol Hill make us proud to be based in Connecticut."

Since 2012, Q30 Innovations has worked with leading medical and academic institutions to research and develop the Q-Collar. Over 25 pre-clinical and clinical studies proved the Q-Collar safely and effectively helps protect the brain from effects of repetitive head impacts. The Q-Collar received FDA authorization in February 2021, and officially launched in the United States in September 2021. The Q-Collar is proudly made in the USA and is currently being worn by professionals and youth athletes in lacrosse, football, soccer, winter sports and members of the armed forces. Since the Collar's commercialization in September 2021, it has already gained the trust of NFL players like Ravens RB Derrick Henry and Titans RB Tony Pollard, and by professionals in soccer, lacrosse, hockey, snowboarding, bobsled and by athletes at over 80 NCAA D1 institutions. The Q-Collar has also been adopted by hundreds of special forces operators in the military and is part of ongoing research by the US Army. Q30 is a partner of the Navy SEAL Foundation and Best Ranger Competition.

Murphy believes entrepreneurship and innovation are the building blocks for a strong economy. In the U.S. Senate, he has introduced legislation to incentivize angel investors to put more money into startup companies-the Angel Tax Credit Act and the Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act. Startup companies create an average of 2 million jobs each year.

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