The U.S. Army awarded the University of Southern Missisisippi a $4.9 million grant to conduct research into helmet liners for soldiers.
Army leaders want researchers at the university to develop a new pneumatic cushioning system to better protect soldiers and hopefully design a more comfortable helmet.
The school has worked with Rawlings Sporting Goods -- makers of baseball and football helmets -- since 2011 to help produce liners for football helmets.
Protecting soldiers from traumatic brain injuries continues to be a focus for the Army. The service has invested in ways to advance the helmet to protect soldiers from blasts in combat.
Last year, over 25,000 U.S. service members were diagnosed with traumatic brain injuries, according to the Defense Department's Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center. It's important to note that not all of those injuries occurred when a service member was wearing a helmet or deployed.
