The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is leading a new multicenter clinical trial to evaluate an interdisciplinary rehabilitation model for veterans and first responders with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and co-occurring conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sponsored by Avalon Action Alliance, Rehabilitation Trial of Interdisciplinary Care for Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury and Co-occurring Disorders (VICTORY-RCT) is one of the most rigorous rehabilitation studies of its kind to date. Researchers believe this discovery could help shape future standards of care for veterans and first responders, as well as civilians around the world living with the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury.
Mild traumatic brain injury remains a leading cause of long-term disability and neurological impairment, affecting millions of people worldwide, including more than 500,000 veterans since 2000. Despite increasing awareness of the lasting effects of concussions and brain trauma, access to coordinated, evidence-based, multidisciplinary rehabilitation remains limited and inconsistent across the country.
MCW will be the coordinating authority for the trial, and internationally recognized traumatic brain injury expert Dr. Michael McCrea, ABPP, will serve as principal investigator. Dr. McCree is a professor and associate director of research in the MCW Department of Neurosurgery and interim executive director of the Wisconsin Neuroscience Institute (WINS).
Avalon Action Alliance has awarded MCW a $7.5 million clinical trial contract to conduct this research over the next four years. This represents a major national investment to advance evidence-based care for veterans and first responders living with the lasting effects of traumatic brain injury and co-morbid conditions.
The VICTORY-RCT study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness and sustainability of a 3-week intensive outpatient rehabilitation program conducted at five Avalon TBI Center clinical sites nationwide.
MCW recently began testing the BRAVE (Building Resilience Through Action in Veterans and First Responders) program, the Midwest’s only comprehensive treatment center focused on traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and other invisible wounds that affect veterans and first responders.
Other participating clinical sites include:
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – THRIVE Program
- Florida Health University Jacksonville – Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, Brain Wellness Program
- University of Colorado Anschutz – Marcus Brain Health Institute
- Jefferson Health – MossRehab Institute for Brain Health (Pennsylvania)
Participating programs provide individualized care, including neurological and physical rehabilitation, psychiatric and psychotherapy, and treatment of symptoms of traumatic brain injury such as dizziness, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. Treatment plans are tailored to each participant’s specific needs. Preliminary results from the Avalon-supported program have shown great promise and led to the initiation of the VICTORY-RCT study.
Although the study population will focus on veterans and first responders, the researchers believe the findings could have far-reaching implications for the broader field of brain injury medicine, including civilian populations affected by concussions, trauma, and chronic neurological conditions.
The VICTORY-RCT study employs the highest level of scientific rigor to evaluate rehabilitation models that have the potential to meaningfully improve the quality of life for individuals dealing with the lasting effects of traumatic brain injury. We are honored to partner with Avalon Action Alliance to lead the effort to advance care for people injured in the line of duty and those suffering from brain injuries around the world. ”
Dr. Michael McCrea, PhD, ABPP, Principal Investigator
Joe Brennan, CEO of Avalon Action Alliance, emphasized the importance of building stronger evidence to improve access and outcomes in long-term care.
“Avalon was founded to ensure veterans and first responders receive the right care at the right time,” Brennan said. “The VICTORY-RCT study strengthens the clinical evidence behind comprehensive TBI rehabilitation and represents an important step toward improving access to care and helping establish more effective standards of care for individuals who overcome the lasting effects of TBI.”
The VICTORY-RCT study reflects growing collaboration among healthcare providers, researchers, philanthropic organizations, and veterans support organizations working together to advance innovation in brain injury rehabilitation. Through its alliance network, the Avalon Action Alliance has connected leading clinical programs and researchers across the country to support a more coordinated approach to the treatment of traumatic brain injury and co-occurring disorders.
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