Brain Trauma Foundation Inc

Programs: Eye-traceye-trac is a research study, the goal of which is to obtain scores for dynamic visuo-motor synchronization, a measure of attention focus, using btf designed eye-tracking goggles (eye sync goggles). The study investigates several different groups of participants: 1) participants who have undergone 26 hour sleep deprivation, 2) participants with a diagnosis of adhd, 3) participants who experience chronic symptoms from a prior mild traumatic brain injury, and 4) healthy volunteers. Btf and its collaborators recruit, consent and test military and civilian study participants. In 2014, the research was in the active data collection phase, and btf met important study related milestones:- 90% of participant enrollment goal was obtained in 2014, totaling 403 study participants. - preliminary research data was analyzed and presented at several conferences the military health system research symposium.

eye-trac advance is a research study, the goal of which is to obtain scores for dynamic visuo-motor synchronization (dvs), a measure of attention focus, using btf designed eye-tracking goggles (eye sync goggles). The study investigates several different groups of participants: 1) athletes, 2) active duty military personnel, 3) participants with eye-sight abnormalities, 4) healthy volunteers. Btf and its collaborators recruit, consent and test military and civilian study participants. In 2014, the research entered the study initiation phase, and btf met several important study related milestones:current year 2014 goals met - study initiation:- obtain necessary irb and human research protection institution approvals for initiation of subject testing at three test sites: btf/weill-cornell medical college, ft. Hood, and usariem completed. - prepare mobile testing centers (mtc) and sites for subject testing (equipment delivery and setup, investigator training, site recruitment preparedness) completed. - design of upgraded eye-sync goggles completed. Design and validation of custom electronic database for data capture completed. - initiate baseline testing of athletes in october of 2014 completed. Over 150 participants were tested in 2014.

concussion definition"concussion definition - an evidence based project" was awarded to btf to establish an evidence-based foundation for the definition of concussion on which to build a final product through extended research, analysis and collaboration. The goal is to develop a universal definition and diagnostic criteria that will facilitate the identification, diagnosis and management of concussions and promote advancements in diagnostics and therapeutic practices. The project consists of 4 main components:1. Establishing and assembling a task force of experts to examine the research and collaborate at a series of meetings;2. Conducting a literature search of potentially relevant studies and publications;3. Developing a "heat map" as a dynamic and interactive tool to access data;4. Formulate a universal working definition of concussion. In 2014, the task force was assembled and three task force meetings were convened:- april 2014 - mt. Sinai hospital, new york, ny- july 2014 - national intrepid center of excellence, bethesda, md- october 2014 - centers for disease control and prevention, atlanta, gathe methods group conducted a literature search which identified 4,679 abstracts of potentially relevant studies and 1,149 full text publications, of which 171 met the inclusion criteria determined by the task force. A research "heat map" was developed, allowing the user to access a complete set of abstracted data for any publication in the review, to filter selected data to create unique reports, combine data across publications, and perform analysis.

the primary tool of btf's quality improvement program, a clinical database, is a secure internet based database that permits a trauma center to examine its own performance as well as benchmark with other institutions. Tbi-trac is designed to help trauma centers measure and monitor their performance on key clinical indicators based on established evidence-based guidelines. Participants use tbi-trac as a routine part of their ongoing monitoring and evaluation activities to identify opportunities for improvement and for sharing information with clinical department chairs, quality performance coordinators, and senior administration. Centers can combine tbi-trac data with other internal data sources to reveal cost savings opportunities associated with improvement strategies.