The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) is leading a new multicenter clinical trial to evaluate a multidisciplinary rehabilitation model for military veterans and first responders with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sponsored by Avalon Action Alliance, the Veterans Interdisciplinary Care Rehabilitation Trial for TBI and co-occurring disorders (VICTORY-RCT) is one of the most rigorous rehabilitation studies of its kind to date. The researchers believe the findings could help shape future standards of care not only for veterans and first responders, but also for citizens around the world living with the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury.
Mild TBI remains the leading cause of long-term disability and neurological impairment, affecting millions worldwide, including more than 500,000 veterans since 2000. Despite growing awareness of the lasting impact of concussion and brain injury, access to coordinated, evidence-based multidisciplinary rehabilitation remains limited and inconsistent nationally.
MCW will serve as the coordinating site for the trial, with internationally recognized TBI expert Michael McCrea, PhD, ABPP, serving as principal investigator. Dr. McCrea is professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Neurosurgery at MCW and interim executive director of the Wisconsin Institute for Neuroscience (WINS).
The Avalon Action Alliance awarded MCW a $7.5 million clinical trial agreement to conduct the study over the next four years, representing a major national investment to advance evidence-based care for veterans and first responders living with the lasting effects of traumatic brain injury and co-existing conditions.
The VICTORY-RCT study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and durability of a three-week intensive outpatient rehabilitation program delivered at five Avalon TBI Center clinical sites nationwide.
MCW recently began testing with the BRAVE (Building Resilience through Action in Veterans and First Responders) program, the Midwest’s only comprehensive treatment center focused on TBI, PTSD and other invisible traumas affecting military veterans and first responders.
Additional participating clinical sites include:
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – THRIVE Program
- University of Florida Health Jacksonville – Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, Brain Wellness Program
- University of Colorado Anschutz – Marcus Institute for Brain Health
- Jefferson Health – MossRehab Institute for Brain Health (Pennsylvania)
Participating programs provide individualized care that includes neurological and physical rehabilitation, psychiatric and psychotherapy, and treatment for TBI symptoms such as dizziness, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating. Treatment plans are tailored to the specific needs of each participant. Preliminary results from Avalon-supported programs have shown significant promise, leading to the initiation of the VICTORY-RCT study.
While the study population will focus on veterans and first responders, the researchers believe the findings could have far-reaching implications for the broader field of brain injury medicine, including civilian populations affected by concussion, trauma, and chronic neurological symptoms.
The VICTORY-RCT study uses the highest level of scientific rigor to evaluate a rehabilitation model that has the potential to substantially improve the quality of life of people dealing with the persistent effects of traumatic brain injury. We are honored to partner with the Avalon Action Alliance and lead an effort that could help advance care for those injured in the line of duty, as well as for people around the world affected by brain injury.”
Dr. Michael McCrea, PhD, ABPP, Principal Investigator
Joe Brennan, CEO of Avalon Action Alliance, emphasized the importance of building stronger evidence to improve long-term care access and outcomes.
“Avalon was created to ensure that veterans and first responders can access the right care at the right time,” Brennan said. “The VICTORY-RCT study represents an important step toward strengthening the clinical evidence behind comprehensive TBI rehabilitation, improving access to care, and helping to establish more effective standards of care for people navigating the lasting effects of traumatic brain injury.”
The VICTORY-RCT study reflects the growing collaboration between healthcare institutions, researchers, charities and veteran-serving organizations working together to advance innovation in brain injury rehabilitation. Through its network of alliances, the Avalon Action Alliance has helped connect leading clinical programs and researchers nationwide to support a more coordinated approach to treating TBI and co-morbid conditions.
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