Research is important to understanding more about brain injury. Because of the complexity of brain injury, the need for research grows more and more important as we attempt to unlock the vast mystery of the brain and its functions.

Current Research Studies Needing Participants

Clinical Research Study Now Enrolling People with Past Head Injury who Feel Sleepy During the Day

Many people with a head injury may feel sleepy during the day, even if the injury happened years ago. Researchers are inviting those with a head injury who feel sleepy during the day to take part in a clinical study. This study will assess how well a study medi­cine works for people who feel sleepy during the day as a result of head injury.

To qualify, you must:

• Be age 18 to 65
• Have had 1 head injury in the past 10 years
• Feel sleepy or tired 5 or more days a week on average
• Be willing to take tests and medicine for 12 weeks
• Be available to sleep overnight in a sleep lab 5 times

If you qualify:

• You may learn more about your sleep patterns
• You will receive study-related medical care and study medicine at no cost
• You may or may not benefit from study medicine
• Compensation for time and travel may also be provided

To see if you qualify call: 1.877.674.6316 or click: www.HeadSleepStudy.org

Asian Americans with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

The University of Massachusetts Boston is seeking Asian and Asian American adults with TBI to participate in a research study.  We are interested in examining the relationships between Asian values, coping style, and well-being. 

This research will involve:

• An interview about your TBI history and experiences
• Taking a short cognitive test
• Filling out a booklet of questionnaires

Some of the requirements for this study are that you:

• Are 18 or older
• Identify as Asian, Asian American, or a specific Asian ethnic group
• Had a TBI or serious concussion at least 6 months ago
• Are sufficiently fluent in English

This is a one-time visit and should take approximately 2-3 hours to complete.  It can take place at your home or any location preferable to you.  You will receive $50 for completing the study.

For more information, please contact:
Patricia Lee: asiantbi@gmail.com
Web site: http://www.asiantbi.org/

Announcement of A Casebook on Community Based Brain Injury Programs

We invite nominations for exemplary programs from around the world that foster community participation for people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).

The purpose of the project is to compile a casebook of evidence-informed programs that facilitate community participation in people of all ages with ABI.  The goal is to help others learn about these programs by making information about them accessible to service providers, policy makers, and researchers for replication and/or adaptation.

Please let us know about any programs that you know of from anywhere in the world that fit this criteria.  When submitting a nomination please provide a brief description of why you believe the program(s) to be exemplary, any contact information for the program and a website address if available.  It would also be helpful to include a key contact that would be available to provide information about the nominated program in greater detail.

The Principal Investigator of this research project is Dr. Richard Volpe at the University of Toronto; the work is funded by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and is an extension of research published in R. Volpe, J. Lewko, and A. Batra, Compendium of Effective, Evidence-Based Practices in the Prevention of Neurotrauma (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2002).

We hope you will welcome the chance to tell us about programs that you believe are exemplary and by doing so, contribute to a casebook of best and promising practice. 

Dr. Richard Volpe
Professor and Projects Director
Life Span Adaptation Projects
Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology
University of Toronto
45 Walmer Rd.
Toronto, Ontario
M5R 2X2
Canada
 
Direct Line: 1-416-934-4511 
Cell: 416-892-7075
Fax: 1-416-934-4500
E mail: richard.volpe@utoronto.ca

Internet users with traumatic brain injury or multiple sclerosis wanted

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York have developed HealthOrganizer.org, a confidential “one stop” health management site for people with memory difficulties and other thinking problems related to traumatic brain injury or multiple sclerosis.  You can use this no cost website to

• Maintain your own medical history
• Track your medications
• Track your health care providers
• Keep a list of problems to discuss with your doctors
• Get reminders of medical appointments, medication refills, etc.
• Get information about brain injury and multiple sclerosis
• Get health tips

If you are a person with traumatic brain injury or multiple sclerosis and have regular access to the internet, you may be interested in using this website. It will not cost you anything to use the website. The benefits of the website are currently being evaluated, and all users must agree to allow the researchers to monitor how and when they use the website. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

If you wish to, you can also complete an interview before using the site and after you have used it for a few months; you will be reimbursed for your time.
More information is available at www.HealthOrganizer.org, or you may call 1-866- 622-1375
(GCO #03-0513 project 2 approved through 9/27/2007)

Potential Treatment for Disorders of the Consciousness (DOCs)

Recently, there have been several case reports of individuals with DOCs (vegetative state, minimally conscious state, sometimes referred to as “long-term coma”) regaining consciousness after receiving the common sleeping drug zolpidem (Ambien). The Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute is conducting a nationwide study, to assess the clinical significance of zolpidem as a treatment for DOCs. The study will be conducted in three phases, of which the first two phases will seek to identify the rate of definite drug responders. In the final phase of the study, some drug responders and nonresponders will be invited to travel to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and undergo testing in order to identify a possible mechanism for drug response. If your family member has been diagnosed with a DOC more than 4 months ago, is at least 18 years of age, and is medically stable, he/she may be eligible to participate in this study. Participants will be provided study medication, screenings, and testing at no cost. For more information, please contact Riya Rajan, the study coordinator, at 215-663-6456 or participants@einstein.edu. This study is funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research and is approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Albert Einstein Healthcare Network.