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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Following a successful Brain Injury Awareness Month in March, I have positive news to report on the progress we’ve made early this year toward our mission to help people living with the devastating effects of brain trauma and PTSD. From advancements in PTSD biomarker research, to newly awarded scientific grants, as well as an exciting new partnership with Gates Ventures, we’re on an accelerated pace for positive outcomes.
I am pleased to report that progress and development of our platforms to advance science are at a pivotal point. We are actively analyzing biomarker data in our PTSD studies and plan to share the results later this year.
We know collaboration is key to success, and we are pleased to announce our new partnership with Gates Ventures to develop an interoperability framework with our BRAINCommons data analytics platform, enabling federated data discovery and neuroimaging analysis across platforms. The framework incorporates advanced AI and machine learning capabilities into neuroimaging pipelines and a common data model to advance discovery across brain disease, increasing access and accelerating the utility of patient data.
Our partnership with Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) has been expanded with the launch of new projects dedicated to increasing the precision of patient treatment planning, benchmarking treatment outcomes to understand which current or novel treatments have meaningful impact and enhancing the outcomes of standard treatments.
We’re proud of our efforts to build awareness of the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) through the TBI Action Alliance. Our Know the Facts About Traumatic Brain Injury campaign is an education and awareness resource detailing the staggering impact of TBI, including the associated healthcare costs and its effect on caregivers, children, Veterans, and seniors. This resource is available for you to share with your community here. We’ve also made strides in Washington D.C., attending Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill to engage in vital conversations with lawmakers, community members, and advocacy groups on the importance of reauthorizing the TBI Act.
CVB researchers have been awarded three new grants that will allow us to further our neuroimaging discovery and validation efforts across brain trauma. In addition, we continue to progress in our Target Advancement Program (TAP) through exciting collaborations with nonprofit and academic partners.
So far, this has been be an exciting year—and we still have many initiatives ahead of us to report on.
I appreciate your continued support as we seek to further our mission to improve the lives of all people suffering from TBI and PTSD.
 Sincerely,
Peter Hoehn
Chief Executive Officer
Cohen Veterans Bioscience
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March was Brain Injury Awareness Month
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Share Your Story: Join the TBI Trailblazers Volunteer Network
 There are 5.3 million Americans living with the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI). That’s why we created the TBI Trailblazers Volunteer Network, a community of Veteran and civilian volunteers who have suffered a TBI or lost a loved one due to brain trauma and want to share their story.
How has TBI impacted you or the lives of your loved ones? Share your TBI experience.
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The statistics are staggering.
Your donation can have a positive impact on the millions of people affected by traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Double Your Impact! Every $1 you donate will be matched.
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From the Frontlines of Awareness
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 “Being a Trauma ICU nurse, I have seen firsthand how suicide has affected our servicemen and women and I am very passionate about trying to come up with positive solutions for those suffering. Funding for this kind of research is so important and absolutely needed in order to continue to try to help save lives before it’s too late.”
Bibi Carmouche |
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22 Jumps at Camelback Mountain, Arizona
Three BASE jumpers jumped 22 times in a single day from Arizona's Camelback Mountain on February 3rd, 2024, seeking to raise more than $22,000 in honor of the 22 Veterans and service members who lose their battle to suicide each day. Bibi Carmouche, Scotty Bob and Tim Howell each BASE jumped 22 times to raise awareness and funds for research that will help make brain trauma more detectable and treatable.
Funds raised are part of the Kiernan Wimmer Fund to support the TBI Action Alliance of which 22 Jumps is a Founding Sponsor.
Upcoming Event: 22 Jumps at Twin Falls, Idaho
BASE jumpers will return to the Perrine Bridge in Twin Falls, Idaho on May 25, 2024 during Memorial Day Weekend to raise awareness of Veteran suicide and funds for traumatic brain injury research.
“Our country’s heroes are increasingly taking their own lives because of the invisible wounds of war. We are excited to host this amazing event, and to have the continued support of Cohen Veterans Bioscience as they lead the way in the fight to find new diagnostics and treatments for TBI” said Tristan Wimmer, Founder and CEO of 22 Jumps.
Read more information about watching the jumps and watch a video from the 2023 event here.
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Driving Progress: TBI Action Alliance Launches Multi-Pronged Initiative to Speed Development of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Solutions for Traumatic Brain Injury
The prevalence of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) rivals that of Alzheimer’s disease and affects everyone from children to older adults. Yet, TBI is still not recognized as a public health crisis. The TBI Action Alliance (TBIAA), a coalition focused on accelerating the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for TBI, announced a multi-pronged policy and communications initiative to bring TBI to the forefront of the national public health agenda and advance new solutions for those affected. In conjunction with Brain Injury Awareness Month are efforts to:
- Raise Awareness for TBI: TBIAA released Know the Facts about Traumatic Brain Injury, a resource detailing the prevalence of TBI, the associated healthcare costs and its impact on caregivers, children, veterans, and seniors. Click here for a link to Know the Facts about TBI and resources for sharing it.
- Support Reauthorization of the TBI Act: On March 6, 2024, as part of Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill, TBIAA called for reauthorization of the TBI Act in partnership with BIAA, BIAUSA and NASHIA. This includes increased federal funding for state-level TBI grants to improve access to rehabilitation and community services for individuals living with TBI, as well as, funding to establish a National Concussion Surveillance System within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which will help to improve estimates of the number of individuals living with a TBI in the United States. Engagement included:
- advancing new conversations about TBI at the Brain Injury Awareness Fair
- educating Congress about the costs and effects of TBI, as well as the barriers to the development of new solutions, through meetings with Congressional members, and
- supporting awareness efforts as part of a Brain Injury Awareness Month reception hosted by the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, co-chaired by Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE).
“Whether it’s a collision on the field or a fender-bender on the road, the risk of TBI is ever-present. It’s a silent epidemic that disrupts lives, burdens families and strains healthcare resources,” emphasized Magali Haas, MD, PhD, Leader, TBI Action Alliance. “Unfortunately, options for patients outside of rehabilitative care are limited,” Dr. Haas said. “The time is now to embark on a new collaborative research model that accelerates the development of a new generation of diagnostics and integrative treatments. Let’s put TBI at the top of the policy and public health agendas.”
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Know the Facts About Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
Learn about traumatic brain injury and how the TBI Action Alliance is advancing awareness, research and collaboration for brain trauma solutions.
No one deserves to suffer due to a lack of effective diagnostics and treatments for traumatic brain injuries. Help us raise awareness that we need more effective treatment options for TBI.
Together, we can make an impact and improve lives.
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Cohen Veterans Bioscience and Cohen Veterans Network Partner to Connect Research and Clinical Care
Cohen Veterans Bioscience (CVB) and Cohen Veterans Network (CVN) have been working together to further our aligned missions through a learning health system model, connecting research and clinical care.
 In collaboration with CVN, we are working on an AI-based model that can be used to predict outcomes of patients being treated for PTSD. Through analysis of data from around 15,000 people who received treatment in CVN’s clinics for disorders such as depression and PTSD between 2015 and 2020, CVB has studied how CVN’s clients report symptoms and how these symptoms progress over time. With this data and application of various artificial intelligence techniques, we developed a model that can predict client’s outcomes, and identified 3 distinct groups: one group whose symptom’s stayed low, another's whose improved significantly and a third group whose symptoms remained high.
To predict which subgroup a new client might belong to, we developed a machine learning model using information available at the start of treatment. This model performed well in predicting the course of a patient's symptoms. Furthermore, we then tested this model on a new group of clients, where the model accurately predicted how symptoms would change over time. This success suggests that machine learning can be a powerful tool in predicting how patients might respond to treatment, allowing for more personalized and effective care plans.
We are currently preparing to submit this work for publication.
In another exciting collaborative project with CVN, we are working together to form a coalition of care providers with the goal of developing of a network of learning mental health systems that will support the improvement of mental health outcomes and access across the United States.
The proposed network will contribute healthcare data (i.e., real world data) and leverage the BRAINCommons data management, analysis and sharing platform to conduct research, such as, stakeholder-centered outcomes research (e.g., outcomes benchmarking), quality improvement initiatives and health services research.
For additional information, please reach out to Maryan Zirkle at info@cohenbio.org
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Past Events
National Academies Workshop: Exploring the Bidirectional Relationship between Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience
The intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and neuroscience holds tremendous promise for advancements in brain health. To explore this complex bidirectional relationship, CVB was proud to have our Founder, Magali Haas, MD, PhD co-chair the workshop on March 25-26, hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, “Exploring the Bidirectional Relationship Between Artificial Intelligence and Neuroscience.” CVB has been a long-term member of the NASEM Neuroscience Forum.
For Cohen Veterans Bioscience, this workshop aligned closely with our data science team’s efforts to address the limitations of current AI technologies and achieve a deeper understanding and application of these technologies in clinical and translational research. Our Chief Innovation and Data Science Officer, Lee Lancashire, PhD, participated in a panel about R&D considerations for neuroscience and AI.
International Initiative for Traumatic Brain Injury Research (InTBIR) 2024 General Assembly
As members of InTBIR, CVB's Ragini Verma, PhD and Nicole Bjorklund, PhD attended the International Initiative for Traumatic Brain Injury Research (InTBIR) 2024 General Assembly that was held in Bethesda, Maryland on January 24-25, 2024. This meeting took place immediately after the NINDS-sponsored TBI Reclassification Workshop.
InTBIR is a coalition of scientists and other stakeholders to foster coordinated and collaborative TBI research. More information about InTBIR can be found here.
Symposium on Sex and Gender in Biology and Medicine
CVB's Ragini Verma, PhD gave a keynote talk on “Sex-specific differences in brain connectomics and its clinical implications” as part of the Symposium on Sex and Gender in Biology and Medicine organized by the Center for Gender-specific Biology and Medicine (CGBM) at the Medical Faculty of Saarland University, Germany. CGBM researches gender-specific aspects in the neurosciences, endocrinology, cardiology, physiology as well as in the fields of immunology, cell biology and organ development.
Dr. Verma presented her pioneering work on sex differences in structural brain connectivity, which even a decade later is the only work that investigates developmental changes in structural connectivity in the brain, and emphasized the need for sex-based therapeutics.
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Upcoming Events
Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024 Annual Meeting
CVB's founder Magali Haas, MD, PhD will present a symposium at the Society of Biological Psychiatry 2024 Annual Meeting on May 9-10 in Austin, Texas, titled "Bringing Precision Psychiatry out of the Lab and into the Clinic: Developing Biomarkers for Diagnosis, Drug Development, Treatment Selection and Tracking Clinical Status."
Subconcussive Trauma and Brain Health Summit
CVB's founder Magali Haas, MD, PhD will be presenting at the Subconcussive Trauma and Brain Health Summit on May 16-17 in Tampa, FL, hosted by the Mac Parkman Foundation.
Save the Date: June 9th, 2024
TBI Diagnostic Showcase at the National Neurotrauma Society Meeting
Will you be attending the National Neurotrauma Society (NNS) meeting in San Francisco in June? Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join the flagship TBI Diagnostic Showcase, hosted by the TBI Action Alliance on June 9.
 Join to:
- Learn about innovative tools and approaches for diagnosing brain injury from emerging companies.
- Hear from key stakeholders in the brain injury community to explore the current landscape of brain injury diagnostics, discuss challenges and opportunities, and envision the future of care.
- Network with colleagues.
Learn more and register to attend.
Sponsorship opportunities available! |
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Brain Injury Awareness Day on Capitol Hill
We had an impactful day at the Brain Injury Awareness Congressional Fair. CVB's Nicole Harmon, PhD and Chantelle Ferland-Beckham, PhD engaged in vital conversations with lawmakers, including Representative Morgan Luttrell (pictured) and Representative Bill Pascrell Jr. on the importance of reauthorizing the TBI Act. They also met with patient advocates and other brain injury advocacy groups on the importance of working collaboratively to help improve the lives of individuals who live with lifelong effects of TBI. The Brain Injury Association of America and National Association of State Head Injury Administrators hosted the Brain Injury Awareness Congressional Fair, and we were proud to partner on this important initiative.
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First Responders Town Hall Events
In March, CVB held its inaugural First Responder Town Hall in an effort to connect with and hear from this important community. The goals of this event were to learn more from the first responder community about how PTSD and TBI specifically affect them and to raise awareness about CVB’s research and advocacy efforts and how our success will ultimately benefit the first responder community.
Our next event will be held virtually on May 16th, as May is traditionally a month for honoring first responders. Learn more and register to attend this virtual event.
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Updates from our Veterans Advisory Council (VAC)
In February, Frank Larkin, the Vice Chair of CVB's Board of Directors and Veterans Advisory Council member, testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel's hearing on Traumatic Brain Injury and Blast Exposure Care. The committee heard testimony from expert witnesses, including Frank, on the difficulty of diagnosing a traumatic brain injury, particularly when the injury may be the result of multiple blast exposures during training and combat, and what we can and should do now to improve outcomes for our servicemembers and Veterans. Watch the full hearing here.
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Updates from the Coalition to Heal Invisible Wounds
One of the top priorities of the Coalition, which is founded by and co-led by Cohen Veterans Bioscience, is to increase the body of evidence on important emerging therapeutics in order to guide physicians in the treatment of Veterans and active duty military members.
In March, the Coalition to Heal Invisible Wounds was on Capitol Hill meeting with members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to advocate for FY 25 funding for the Veterans Administration. This funding would specifically be used to expand the research into the safety and efficacy of psychedelic-assisted therapies for conditions such as PTSD and major depressive disorder, adding several hundred slots for Veterans to participate in this important clinical research, and would scale up necessary VA infrastructure so that Veterans will have early access to these therapies if they are approved by the FDA later this year.
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Research Updates & Publications
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2024 Best Negative Data Prize in Preclinical Research
The Global Preclinical Data Forum, in collaboration with Cohen Veterans Bioscience, the Parnership for the Assessment and Accredidation of Science Practice, and the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, announced the opening of submissions for the 2024 Best Negative Data Prize in Preclinical Neuroscience on April 1st. The prize recognizes the researcher or research group whose publication in preclinical neuroscience best exemplifies data where the results do not confirm the expected outcomes or original hypotheses.
The primary aim of the prize, which was first awarded in 2018, has been to raise awareness about the importance of publishing all well-conducted studies, regardless of the outcome, to ensure scientific integrity and increase public trust in research. When researchers fail to publish negative findings, an important part of the complete scientific knowledge is lost, which could lead to unnecessary duplication of research efforts and potential loss of time and money.
CVB was recently honored for their work in championing the Best Negative Data Prize by receiving Honorable Mention in the NINDS's Rigor Champions Prize Challenge, which was awarded in March.
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Publications
Cohen Veterans Bioscience is proud to share recent publications focused on advancements in brain trauma research.
CVB authored or funded the following publications published to date in 2024:
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Start a Fundraiser
Veterans, first responders, and all people suffering from the effects of brain trauma urgently need our help.
Every dollar helps fast-track our research to advance solutions for traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Double Your Impact! Every $1 you donate will be matched by $1.
Get Started in 3 Easy Steps:
- Visit https://support.cohenveteransbioscience.org/fundraise, click Start Fundraising and create your account.
- Personalize your fundraiser. Add a title and description that explains why you're fundraising for CVB. Then set your fundraising goal and upload a banner image.
- Make a donation: being the first to donate helps encourage others to donate. Share your fundraiser with family, friends, and on social media!
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