Research Goals
In the Clinical Neurotrauma Laboratory, we combine innovative study designs with cutting edge tools (i.e. sensor-installed mouthguards, brain-derived blood biomarkers, ocular-motor testing, and advanced neuroimaging) to investigate the effects of repetitive head trauma across the lifespan. Our overarching goal is to determine whether, and to what extent, repetitive microtraumas to the head alters brain health in both the short- and long-term. We apply a multidisciplinary approach to explore early markers of neurodegeneration, identify modifiable risk and resilience factors, and develop scalable diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
"I took the road less traveled by, and that made all the difference"- Unknown
Our research program is anchored in four primary domains:
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Investigating the acute and chronic effects of subconcussive head impacts
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Identifying therapeutics and comorbidities of traumatic brain injuries
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Evaluating the utility, accuracy, and effectiveness of brain injury diagnostic tools in resource-limited environments
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Neurological effects of sexual strangulation
Research Domains:
Acute and Chronic Effects of Subconcussive Head Impacts
Our lab is internationally recognized for its work in understanding the subtle, cumulative damage that can be caused by subconcussive head impacts, which are blows to the head that do no cause immediate symptoms typically seen with concussive head impacts, but may lead to long-term neurological changes. We pioneered a controlled soccer heading model and wearable sensor technology to quantify head impacts in athletes. Additionally, through blood-biomarker analysis, advanced neuroimaging, and oculomotor assessments, we are able to identify both short- and long-term changes in neuroinflammation, axonal integrity, and brain function.
Therapeutics and Comorbidities of Brain Trauma
Not all brains respond to injury the same way. Because of this, our lab explores modifiable risk and resilience factors that shape neurological outcomes after repetitive head trauma
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Cannabis use: chronic use of cannabis may show reduced neuroinflammatory responses and better oculomotor outcomes following exposure to a controlled soccer heading model, suggesting a potential protective effect
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Hormones in female athletes: hormonal contraceptive use and endogenous progesterone levels appear to be neuroprotective in female contact sport athletes
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ADHD & cognitive vulnerability: individuals with ADHD exhibit greater impairments in memory, brain metabolism, and blood biomarkers after trauma, patenting to reduced neural resilience
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Our current R01 is a double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial that is testing DHA+EPA as a neuroprotective intervention for athletes exposed to repetitive head impacts from a controlled soccer-heading model
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Mental Health: Our data has shown increased depressive symptomology in adolescent football players with a history of 3 or more years of high school football experience and higher psychiatric symptomology in retired contact sport athletes.
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Environmental Stressors: While we have studied whether hypoxia, intermittent fasting, and sleep deprivation can exacerbate subconcussive effects, we found not amplification of neurological markers. However, this lays the groundwork for future studies with more extreme conditions
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Practice Drills & Policy: We have validated that the “levels-of-contact” drill framework used by USA Football, which has shown that there is lower head impact exposure during non-live practice sessions, which has been praised in both national media and by public health advocates.
Brain Trauma Diagnostic Tools in Resource Limited Environments
We are working to improve TBI diagnostics in low- and middle-income countries where access to neurologic care is limited. In collaboration with Dr. Dibya Data and physicians in Uganda, we have studied pediatric TBI using portable blood biomarker technologies. We found that these portable blood biomarker technologies were able to detect a TBI with >95% accuracy and predict neurodisability at both hospital discharge and follow-up. We are working towards developing a trauma research and care infrastructure that integrates biomarker testing with clinical triage protocols.
Neurological Effects of Strangulation
Sexual strangulation has become increasingly prevalent among young adults. In partnership with Dr. Debby Herbenick, we are leading the first studies to examine the potential neurological consequences of sexual strangulation. Our pilot research has found that women with frequent strangulation experiences show:
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Structural brain differences
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Altered brain activation during memory tasks (fMRI)
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Elevated markers of astrocyte activation and inflammation
Our findings raise the important questions about how this consensual sexual behavior may produce measurable neurological changes. This work has gained substantial public attention, including coverage in The New York Times, and reflects our commitment to understanding under-recognized forms of brain injuries. Especially those that disproportionately effect women.
