The Departments of Defense (DoD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) have established two multi-institutional consortia targeting research for the diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The joint research consortia, which is supported by a combined investment of $107 million, reportedly comes in response to President Obama’s Executive Order. The order directs the Federal agencies to develop a coordinated National Research Action Plan to improve prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health conditions.
Eric K. Shinseki, secretary of Veterans Affairs, articulates the VA’s pride in joining “with its partners in the federal government and the academic community to support the President’s vision and invest in research that could lead to innovative, new treatments for TBI and PTSD. We must do all we can to deliver the high-quality care our Service members and Veterans have earned and deserved,” Shinseki adds.
The VA notes that the Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC), a collaborative effort between Virginia Commonwealth University, the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, and the Richmond VA Medical Center, will explore factors which influence the chronic effects of mTBI and common comorbidities in order to improve diagnostic and treatment options. The VA adds that a key point during the research will center on understanding the link between mTBI and neurodegenerative disease.
The Consortium to Alleviate PTSD (CAP), a collaborative effort between the University of Texas Health Science Center—San Antonio, San Antonio Military Medical Center, and the Boston VA Medical Center, will attempt to develop the most effective diagnostic, prognostic, novel treatment, and rehabilitative strategies to treat acute PTSD and prevent chronic PTSD.
[Source: VA]
