DoD Complex Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research – Clinical Research Award by Department of Defense

The FY19 PH/TBIRP CTRR-CRA is intended to support clinical research focused on understanding the clinical sequelae and mechanisms of recovery associated with mTBI and TBI-related cognitive, sensory, and motor performances. The overarching goals of this award are to address TBI-related impairments and deficits, including multi-modal and cognitive dysfunction, to (1) develop and validate rehabilitation outcome measures; (2) systematically analyze standard of care cognitive interventions to identify optimal treatment ingredients; and (3) improve clinician-driven assessment strategies to guide RTD decision-making.

The FY19 PH/TBIRP CTRR-CRA seeks research to develop and validate novel outcome measures that will characterize and track functional cognitive, sensory, and motor performance deficit in Service members and relevant populations with cognitive dysfunction following TBI; and to identify key treatment approaches to optimize cognitive rehabilitation following TBI, as consistent with the mission of the JPC-8/CRMRP.

The FY19 PH/TBIRP CTRR-CRA mechanism supports applied and translational clinical research to advance the development of knowledge and materiel products for rehabilitation and restoration of function following TBI. Applicants should explain how their work will inform the development, refinement, and/or revision of existing standards of care, clinical recommendations, or guidelines.

TBI is defined as being caused by (1) a direct blow or impact to the head, (2) a penetrating head injury, or (3) an exposure to external forces such as blast waves that disrupt the function of the brain. Not all blows to the head or exposure to external forces result in a TBI. The severity of TBI may range from “mild,” a brief change in mental status or consciousness, to “severe,” an extended period of unconsciousness or confusion after the injury. A complex mTBI is a multi-faceted condition resulting after mild traumatic brain injury with comorbidities and related deficits in the areas of cognition, sensorimotor, and performance. Classification of TBI severity can be found in Table 1 of the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Concussion-Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

The proposed research must be relevant to active duty Service members, Veterans, military beneficiaries, and/or the American public.