Traumatic brain injury affects roughly 2.8 million Americans each year, ranging from concussions to severe injuries that cause lasting disability. Treatment focuses on preventing further damage, managing swelling and pressure in the brain, and supporting recovery through rehabilitation. Many people recover fully from mild TBI, but moderate and severe injuries often leave cognitive, emotional, or physical effects.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing drugs to protect brain cells after injury, treatments to reduce inflammation and swelling, stem cell approaches to repair damaged tissue, and devices that monitor brain pressure or stimulate recovery. Researchers are also studying chronic effects of repeated mild TBI, developing better ways to predict who will recover, and testing rehabilitation techniques that use brain imaging to guide therapy.
Neuroprotective drugs
Several trials are testing drugs that aim to protect brain cells in the hours and days after injury, when chemical cascades cause further damage. These include drugs that reduce inflammation, block toxic signals, or stabilize cell membranes.
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Studies are working to understand CTE, the degenerative brain disease linked to repeated hits to the head. Researchers are developing ways to diagnose it during life and testing whether treatments for other dementias might help.
Brain stimulation
Devices that apply magnetic or electrical pulses to the brain are being tested to improve recovery of movement, speech, memory, and mood after TBI. Some trials combine stimulation with physical or cognitive therapy.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on injury severity, time since injury, age, specific symptoms or complications, and whether other medical conditions are present.
What types of trials are currently open
- Acute treatment trials — Testing drugs or procedures given in the emergency room or ICU to limit brain damage in the first hours or days after injury.
- Rehabilitation trials — Testing physical therapy, cognitive training, speech therapy, or other approaches to improve recovery weeks to years after injury.
- Device trials — Studies of brain stimulation devices, pressure monitors, or other technologies used during recovery.
- Biomarker studies — Testing blood tests or imaging methods that might predict recovery, guide treatment decisions, or detect ongoing brain damage.
- Long-term outcome studies — Following people for months or years after TBI to understand lasting effects and what factors predict better or worse outcomes.
Recently added Traumatic Brain Injury trials
Repurposing Insulin With Intranasal Administration to Improve Function After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
This Phase II clinical trial protocol will provide evidence as to whether IN insulin is efficacious in reducing symptoms in people seeking care for mild TBI (concussion).
Smartphone Enabled Detection of Cognitive Motor Dissociation in the ICU
The purpose of this research study is to evaluate whether a smartphone-enabled EEG (electroencephalography) system can be used to detect Cognitive Motor Dissociation (CMD) in patients with acute neurological injuries who appear unable to follow commands at the bedside. CMD occurs when a person may be conscious and able to understand instructions but cannot physically respond. The study will also examine whether CMD detection is associated with short-term and long-term recovery outcomes.
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