TBI Research at USU

Like the brain, the Uniformed Services University's (USU) traumatic brain injury (TBI) research enterprise involves many “parts” that perform a specific role in conjunction with and contribution to the larger whole.

The “parts” include TBI research programs such as CNRM, the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research, Dr. Daniel Perl's Neuropathology Research Division, the Traumatic Injury Research Program, and more. These distinct activities work in harmonious unison to accelerate requirements-driven TBI research that advances the health, readiness, and lethality of our nation’s warfighters.

USU’s TBI research enterprise utilizes its renowned expertise, expansive capabilities, cutting-edge technologies, and state-of-the-art facilities to fulfill the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) top TBI needs.

Current research initiatives include:

Delineating the Neurological Effects of Repetitive, Low-level Blast Exposures

Dr. Michael Roy’s Investigating Training Associated Blast Pathology (INVICTA) study pairs measured blast exposures with innovative assessments of brain function during Special Operator training to develop a risk stratification algorithm that can guide military leaders.

Developing Lifesaving Solutions for Intracranial Hemorrhages in Austere Environments

CNRM’s Prolonged Field Care initiative is developing and testing two devices designed to provide field-based diagnosis and care of traumatic epidural or subdural hemorrhage.

Examining the Long-term Effects of TBI

Dr. Daniel Perl’s Neuropathology Research Division investigates the neuropathology of TBI using specimens donated to the DoD/USU Brain Tissue Repository—the only brain bank in the world exclusively dedicated to warfighters.

Investigating Enhanced Treatments for TBI-related Symptomatology

CNRM and the Center for Rehabilitation Sciences Research conduct interventional clinical trials that investigate novel treatments for TBI-related sequelae, so injured warfighters can recover more quickly and completely. 

Visualizing the “Invisible Injury”

CNRM is investigating novel fluid-based and imaging biomarkers that are sensitive enough to diagnose and prognosticate the recovery of warfighters with mild TBIs and/or blast exposures.