Clinical Research Directory

Pilot rTMS for AUD+mTBI

This is a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) for Veteran participants with alcohol use disorder co-occurring with mild traumatic brain injury and/or post-traumatic stress disorder. The treatment intervention is repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and the goal is to reduce alcohol craving with this treatment. The study will enroll 20 Veteran participants. Half of these participants will receive real rTMS and half of the participants will receive placebo rTMS. rTMS treatment will be provided over 10 sessions that will occur once every weekday for 2 weeks. Veteran participants will then complete follow-up phone calls to further evaluate alcohol craving and other symptoms.

Sleep MAPP in the Polytrauma/TBI System of Care

This pilot implementation trial will evaluate the Sleep Disorder Management Assistance for Providers and Patients (Sleep MAPP) Care Pathway in one Veterans Health Administration Polytrauma/TBI System of Care clinic. The care pathway combines a provider-facing decision-support tool that supports pre-visit administration and documentation of the Insomnia Severity Index with training and implementation support for clinic providers to deliver Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia. The study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of the care pathway; describe changes in guideline-concordant insomnia screening and behavioral treatment; and describe preliminary changes in insomnia symptoms, neurobehavioral symptoms, and participation in social roles among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury who receive Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia. Up to 30 clinic providers or staff and 50 Veterans will be invited to complete research surveys and interviews. Implementation and clinical outcomes will be obtained from routinely collected clinical data.

Transcranial Ultrasonography for the Management of Patients With Mild TBI

The investigators hypothesize that patients with mild TBI and normal TCD can be safely discharged home immediately after the ED. The targeted population is the category of patients eligible for early discharge: 1) patients with mild lesions on the initial CT scan and a GCS 15 after CT scan completion and, 2) patients with no lesion on the initial cerebral CT scan with at least one of the following risk factors: GCS 14 after CT scan completion, persisting post-traumatic nausea/vomiting/headaches, concomitant alcoholic intoxication or patients treated with aspirin. The study will not include mild TBI patients who are not eligible for early discharge: patients with no possibility of home supervision, those with a GCS lower than 14 after the CT scan or those treated with anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs other than aspirin. The investigators expect the TCD-based strategy to be non-inferior compared to the standard strategy according to French recommendations in terms of the 3-months neurological outcome. From a public health standpoint, the use of TCD as a triage tool may change current guidelines regarding mild TBI management.

Sub-symptom Threshold Aerobic Exercise After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

This Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) will explore the effect of sub-symptom threshold aerobic exercise on persistent post-concussion symptoms and exercise intolerance in patients with mild Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The hypothesis is that sub-symptom training will reduce the symptom pressure, normalize exercise tolerance, reduce patient-specific activity limitations and improve health-related quality of life. To improve the chances of conducting a high-quality RCT, a feasibility trial will be completed prior to the definitive RCT.

Neuromodulation and Neurorehabilitation for mTBI

This study will determine (i) the magnitude of immediate and sustained effects of a current clinical standard interactive computer attention processing training (APT) when combined with intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS), a type of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and (ii) determine how APT + iTBS changes the neurocognitive system of attention in individuals with persistent attention deficits related to mTBI +/- PTSD.

Growth Hormone Replacement Therapy in Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) and Adult Growth Hormone Deficiency (AGHD)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether growth hormone replacement therapy (GHRT) is effective versus placebo in the improvement of Quality of Life in patients with adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Memantine Targeting Neurovascular Dysfunction After Mild and Moderate Traumatic Brain Injury (MEND)

The goal of this pilot clinical trial is to learn whether memantine can be given safely and successfully to adults in hospital with a mild or moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). Memantine is approved to treat Alzheimer's disease, but it is not approved to treat TBI. The study will also test whether brain scans and other assessments are suitable for a larger trial. TBI can damage the blood-brain barrier. This protective lining controls what can pass from the bloodstream into the brain. Researchers can measure this damage with a specialized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan using contrast dye. The main questions are: * Can participants start memantine soon after their injury and take it for three months? * How safe and tolerable are daily memantine doses of 20 mg and 30 mg? * Can MRI scans measure changes in the blood-brain barrier from the start of the study to three months? * Can researchers complete the study visits and collect enough information to plan a larger trial? The study will include 45 adults admitted to the Halifax Infirmary in Nova Scotia, Canada, with a non-penetrating mild or moderate TBI. A computer will assign each participant by chance to one of three groups. One group will receive 20 mg of memantine per day. Another group will receive 30 mg per day. The third group will receive usual care without memantine. The memantine dose will increase gradually based on how well each participant tolerates it. Participants will: * Receive usual care, with or without memantine for three months; * Have specialized MRI scans near the start of the study and at three months; * Have recordings of brain activity near the start, at three months, and at six months; and * Complete tests and questionnaires about symptoms, memory, attention, mood, daily function, disability, and quality of life. Researchers will compare the groups to look for differences in blood-brain barrier changes, side effects, and recovery measures. Because this is a small pilot study, it is not designed to prove that memantine improves recovery. Its results will instead help researchers choose a dose, assess safety of drug delivery, and design a larger trial.

Vestibular Rehabilitation App for Adults With Dizziness Related to mTBI

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare outcomes for standard vestibular rehabilitation home program to a digital vestibular rehabilitation home program in adults with dizziness related to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The main question is whether participants who use the digital format of vestibular rehabilitation improve to a greater extent at discharge than those who use the standard format. Participants will undergo a customized vestibular rehabilitation home exercise program per standard of care, consisting of gaze stabilization, habituation, balance and gait exercises, and endurance training under the supervision of a physical therapist. Participants will complete the gaze stabilization and habituation exercises 2-3 times per day and the balance and gait exercises 1 time per day for 4 weeks. Participants will be tested before and after the 4-week intervention. At the initial session, the researcher will perform standard clinical tests of the inner ear balance system. Also at the initial session, the researcher will perform standard clinical tests of balance and walking and questionnaires about the impact of dizziness on daily activities. At the final session, the researcher will repeat the tests of balance and walking and questionnaires. Three months after completing the intervention participants will complete an online questionnaire about the impact of dizziness on daily activities.

TES HT100 Clinical Validation for Brain Injury Screening in Patients With Mild Head Trauma or Neurological Symptoms

The goal of this clinical study is to evaluate how accurately and safely the TES HT100 device can identify intracranial abnormalities in adult emergency department patients with mild head trauma or neurological symptoms that are not related to trauma and are not immediately life-threatening. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How well does TES HT100 identify patients with intracranial abnormalities compared with head CT, the reference standard? * Is TES HT100 safe to use in this patient population? * Could TES HT100 help improve patient triage and use of hospital resources in the emergency setting? Researchers will compare the result of TES HT100 with the head CT report. Participants will: * Be enrolled if they are adults presenting to the emergency department with mild head trauma or selected neurological symptoms * Undergo standard clinical assessment and head CT according to usual care * Have an additional TES HT100 examination lasting about 5 minutes, performed by trained personnel * Be assessed for device performance and any adverse events related to use of the device

Kids Injury Detection Study Using the i-STAT

KIDS-STAT is a prospective study evaluating whether a rapid blood test measuring the brain injury biomarkers GFAP and UCH-L1 using the i-STAT Alinity system can help identify children with mild traumatic brain injury who do not have acute traumatic findings on head CT. The study will include children younger than 18 years who present within 24 hours of a suspected mild traumatic brain injury. Blood will be collected during the emergency department visit and tested using the i-STAT TBI cartridge. The test results will be used for research purposes only and will not be used to make clinical care decisions. The primary objective is to determine how reliably a negative i-STAT TBI result identifies children without traumatic findings on head CT. Secondary analyses will evaluate test performance across age groups and in relation to clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Randomized Controlled Trial of Treatment to Optimize Heart Rate Variability for Persistent Post-Concussion Symptoms

Many combat veterans (c-Vs), service members (SMs) and civilians with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI, also termed concussion) suffer from persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) that degrade physical and cognitive well-being and have been linked with early neurodegeneration. PPCS include somatosensory (e.g., headache, disturbed vision), vestibular (e.g., dizzy, clumsy), cognitive (e.g., executive function, memory) and affective symptoms (e.g., sleep disturbance, irritability, depression). A key pathological process that provokes and perpetuates PPCS is autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction such as unremitting sympathetic nervous system activation that also exacerbates other pathology such as inflammation. ANS activity can be readily quantified by measuring heart rate variability (HRV), or the variation in heart rate over time, which serves as a valid index of both physiological and psychological health

Comparison of Two Group Wellness Interventions for Individuals With Neurologic Conditions and Their Support Persons

Approximately 5.3 million people live with a long-term disability resulting from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and between 5-8% of those older than 60 suffer from Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia (ADRD). Consequences of these conditions can result in dramatic and persistent changes in functioning, impacting not only the patients, but also loved ones who become informal support persons. Many existing services help the family in the moment, but do not address long-term wellness. Thus, the purpose of this research study is to compare the effect of two different types of group wellness treatments for individuals with chronic mild TBI, moderate to severe TBI, and ADRD and their support persons.

Contributions of mTBI to Neurodegeneration Due to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD)

This is a research study that aims to examine whether Veterans with mild Traumatic Brain Injuries are at risk for dementia by studying their memory, brain wave activity, brain structure and proteins that can be elevated after brain injury and in dementia.

Targeting Neuroplasticity for Persistent Post-Concussive Cognitive Symptoms

This project investigates an innovative combination of non-invasive neuromodulation (transcranial direct current stimulation - tDCS) and cognitive training as a novel treatment approach aimed at improving function in individuals suffering from persistent post-concussive syndrome (PPCS) following mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Utilizing Electronic Clinical Decision Support to Enhance mTBI Care at the Primary Care Point of Entry

Six primary care practices within a large Philadelphia pediatric care network will use an electronic Clinical Decision Support (eCDS) tool as standard care for concussion evaluation. The eCDS tool will include a prediction rule for children aged 5-18 assessed for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The eCDS tool predicts risk for persistent symptoms and prompts referral to specialty care for those deemed high risk. This research proposes to analyze the clinical and process outcomes in these six practices relative to the rest of the care network, specifically, whether the eCDS tool reduces time to symptom resolution.

Brain Research Assessing Impacts of Neurophysiological Processing Speed Training in Veterans

Older veterans with a history of mild brain trauma exhibit early cognitive challenges, especially in driving-related tasks. This is attributed to alterations in the brain's excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance. This pilot project investigates this phenomenon by leveraging electroencephalography (EEG) to measure parietal lobe alpha rhythms during visual attention tasks. The hypothesis is that targeted visual attention training can modulate these alpha rhythms, improving instrumental activities in daily life. However, outcomes from such training vary, possibly due to individual differences in cortical inhibitory functions. This study will assess the relationship between EEG measures of E/I balance pre- and post-visual attention training and its effects on processing speeds in aging veterans. Our findings aim to provide a foundation for customized therapies and interventions for veterans with and without a history of brain trauma.

Disparity Driven Vergence in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI)

This study aims to determine the validity and safety of disparity driven vergence using a portable goggle system (I-PAS) using a pseudorandom ternary sequence of frequencies for testing.

Pilot TMS in Mild TBI

Persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS) involve an array of physical, cognitive, and behavioral symptoms lasting more than a month after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). 34-44% of people with mTBI or concussion present with a considerable burden of PPCS 3-6 months after injury. There is currently no standardized treatment for PPCS, nor FDA approved medication for any neuropsychiatric or neurocognitive symptoms associated with mTBI. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) shows promise as a treatment for PPCS; however, the current one-size-fits-all approach does not address the heterogeneity of symptoms. We propose utilization of resting state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) guided rTMS to target personalized brain networks burdened with PPCS.

Pathways Relating Amnestic MCI to a Mild Traumatic Brain Injury History

This study will probe if the biological changes in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) are related to a history of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) using high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and blood-derived biomarker tools. Participants who Do as well as those who Do Not have a history of mTBI will be enrolled in the study.

Rehabilitation, Education, and SElf-management for Adolescents After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Concussion or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a major public health concern. Most adolescents will recover from mTBI without complication; however, a sizeable minority experience symptoms that last more than one most post-injury (i.e., persisting symptoms after concussion). Few evidence-based treatments exist for adolescents with persisting symptoms after concussion. Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are effective for treating a wide range of mental and physical health conditions that overlap with post-concussion symptoms. Participants will participate in an 8-week smartphone app-based MBI or a health education program as a control. The study will determine the practicality of doing a larger study to evaluate the effectiveness of the MBI by assessing participants' level of interest, view of intervention helpfulness, and their completion of all the components of the study.

Risk Stratification in Children With Concussion

This project will measure concussion symptoms, biological markers, and academic and social factors across the first year postconcussion to develop a model that enables early identification of and symptom management for children at higher risk for persistent postconcussive symptoms. Findings will provide novel insights into the longer-term effects of concussion on children's physical, psychological, and social well-being and support the development of personalized healthcare and school-based plans to reduce disparities in children's ability to return-to-learn and -play and improve postconcussion quality of life.

Multicenter Early Intervention Study in Adults With Complaints After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury

Rationale: In the Netherlands, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the most frequent neurological diseases and one of the leading causes of disability. Presumably, about half of the total Dutch population will get a TBI during their lifetime. The majority, about 85%, of patients suffers from a mild TBI (mTBI). The incidence of mTBI is estimated at 68,000 patients each year, but this is an underestimation as patients seen at the general practitioner's offices are not taken into account. In general, the prognosis of mTBI is relatively good, however more than 70% of patient still have one or more post-traumatic complaints at six months post-injury influencing resumption of daily (social) activities and return to work/study. Considering the high annual incidence of mTBI the number of patients with incomplete recovery has high social impact accompanied with excessive health care related costs. Post-traumatic complaints in the chronic phase postinjury are considered therapy resistant and so far no evidence based treatment is available. Hence, the most appropriate strategy is to prevent complaints present in the (sub)acute phase after injury to become persistent to improve functional outcome and quality of life. Objective: The main aim of this study is to improve early care for patients suffering from post-traumatic complaints after mTBI through the development of effective symptom-guided tailored interventions. Nowadays, no effective therapy is available and care-as-usual consists of a wait-and-see policy. Early therapy will reduce posttraumatic complaints and facilitate earlier return to daily activities and work or study, consequently quality of life will be improved as well. This in turn will result in less healthcare consumption and lower societal costs. Study design: The investigators propose a prospective three-arm multicenter open randomized controlled trial (RCT), randomizing participants between two interventions and care as usual. The end-point assessment is blinded. Study population: Adults, aged 18-70 years, diagnosed with a mTBI at the Emergency Department (ED) of the participating hospitals within 24 hours after injury are eligible for inclusion. Intervention: At two weeks post-injury the presence, severity, and type of post-traumatic complaints are assessed using the Rivermead Postconcussive complaints Questionnaire (RPQ). If a predefined minimum of complaints is present, a participant is randomised for one of the two interventions or the control group. The first intervention arm consists of symptom-targeted treatment with assignment to physical and/or occupational therapy. The second intervention arm involves psychoeducation about the complaints through telephonic counselling. The interventions are offered during three weeks from week 3-6 week post-injury. Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary outcome measure is the total RPQ sum score at three months postinjury. The secondary outcome measures are functional outcome and quality of life. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit and group relatedness: Participants included in treatment arm 1 will undergo three to six therapy sessions with a physiotherapist and/or occupational therapist over a period of three weeks. This regimen may be potentially burdensome by its frequency but the risks associated with these treatments are low. Participants randomised to treatment arm 2 will receive three telephone calls over the course of three weeks, during which psychoeducation will be provided. This intervention is minimally burdensome and risk-free. All participants included in the interventional part of the study will complete questionnaires at three time points after injury and will receive two follow-up telephone calls three and six months post-injury for outcome assessment. This process is minimally burdensome and poses no risk. Finally, participants included in the registry will complete a limited set of questionnaires at three time points, which is also minimally burdensome and riskfree.

Clinical Trial Comparing the Efficacy of Two Teletherapy Programs at Improving Psychological Health in People With Brain Injury

The purpose of the study is to test two different training programs to find out which is better at helping people with a concussion or mild TBI (mTBI) improve their emotional health and well-being. Study participation is completely remote and will last approximately 8 months total, involving 4 assessment visits and 8 sessions of brain training via a secure video-conferencing platform. The 4 assessment visits (about 30-90 minutes each) include surveys and questionnaires about participant's emotional health. These assessment visits will take place before the training, immediately after the training, 3 months after training and 6 months after training. The 8 sessions of 1-on-1 training (about 60-90 minutes each) will be completed over the course of approximately 1 month.

SMART Concussion Trial: Symptom Management vs Alternative Randomized Treatment of Concussion Trial

Given the rising rates of concussion in youth ages 10-19 and the significant proportion of young people who remain symptomatic for months following concussion, research evaluating the efficacy of multifaceted treatment options following concussion is imperative. Studies examining the efficacy of treatment strategies following concussion in children and adults are surprisingly limited, and most focus on one treatment approach, have small sample sizes, are not randomized controlled trials, and focus on individuals with prolonged recovery (months). There is a need for a multifaceted treatment trial to examine the early implementation of treatment approaches that may reduce prolonged recovery while considering the heterogeneous presentation of symptoms and patient preferences in the sub-acute stage following concussion. Randomized controlled trials that consider a multifaceted transdisciplinary approach to treatment in the early period following concussion are needed to raise the bar regarding evidence-informed management following concussion