Monash Secures $799K ARC Grant Featuring HITIQ’s PROTEQT™ Mouthguards

A Prestigious Partnership in Brain Injury Research

HITIQ Limited (ASX, HIQ) has taken a significant step forward in concussion research and commercial validation with Monash University’s recent award of a nearly $800,000 Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project grant. This prestigious funding will support a groundbreaking study that integrates HITIQ’s PROTEQT™ instrumented mouthguards as a core technology to better understand brain injury thresholds.

The project, titled "Combining biomechanics and biomarkers to establish brain injury thresholds," aims to bridge a critical gap in sports medicine by pairing real-time biomechanical data from PROTEQT™ mouthguards with advanced biological markers. This dual approach promises to move beyond subjective concussion assessments toward objective, evidence-based thresholds that can inform safer return-to-play decisions and equipment standards worldwide.

Commercial Validation and Strategic Impact

Monash University’s selection of PROTEQT™ as the preferred instrumented mouthguard platform comes with a substantial commercial pre-commitment, 400 units valued at $200,000 are scheduled for delivery in January 2026. This not only provides immediate revenue for HITIQ but also signals strong institutional confidence in the technology’s scientific and practical capabilities.

Beyond the immediate financial benefits, this partnership places HITIQ at the forefront of concussion research, offering independent academic validation that is crucial for regulatory approvals and international adoption. The integration of PROTEQT™ technology into such a high-profile, peer-reviewed research project underscores its growing reputation as the gold standard for head impact measurement in field sports.

Shaping the Future of Brain Injury Safety

Dr Stuart McDonald, the project’s chief investigator, highlights the innovative nature of the research, which combines high-fidelity impact data with computational brain strain models and sensitive blood biomarkers. This comprehensive methodology aims to identify biologically grounded injury thresholds, potentially transforming helmet testing standards and safety protocols across sports, defense, and transport sectors.

HITIQ’s Executive Chair, Earl Eddings, emphasised the broader implications, "This partnership validates our technology’s scientific capabilities and positions HITIQ at the forefront of research that will shape global understanding of head impact exposure and brain injury risk." The research outcomes are expected to provide the clinical evidence base necessary for regulatory pathways and support safer participation in activities prone to head impacts.

Looking Ahead

As the ARC funds become available and contractual arrangements are finalised early next year, HITIQ’s PROTEQT™ technology is poised to play a pivotal role in advancing concussion science and safety standards globally. This collaboration not only strengthens HITIQ’s commercial and research portfolio but also reinforces the company’s position as a leader in athlete safety technology.