VA is leading a groundbreaking two-day event focused on brain health, Brain Trust: Pathways to InnoVAtion. The first annual public-private partnership event will take place this week at the National Press Club and the IBM Institute for Electronic Government in Washington, D.C.
Building on the extraordinary leadership and trailblazing efforts of a number of distinguished VA brain researchers, VA is convening many of the most influential voices in the field of brain health – to include the Department of Defense, the sports industry, private sector, federal government, Veterans and community partners – to identify and advance solutions for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Issues related to brain health and head trauma transcend the Veteran and military community, impacting all Americans. By highlighting the themes of collaborative research, medical technology and sports innovation for player safety, Brain Trust participants will discuss the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and reintegration of Veterans, athletes and Americans in general – suffering from head trauma related injuries. The event will also serve as a showcase for many of the advancements that VA is pioneering to improve brain health for Veterans, the military and for the American public at large.
In addition to many of the world’s most accomplished brain research scientists, other confirmed participants in the summit include sports commentator Bob Costas, Gen. Peter Chiarelli (CEO of One Mind, and the former Vice Chief of Staff of the Army), Briana Scurry (former U.S. Women’s Soccer Player), Jeanne Marie Laskas (author of the GQ article that inspired the movie Concussion), Terry O’Neil (16-time Emmy award winner), representatives from the NFL Players Association, the NFL, the NCAA, DARPA, DOD, NIH, CDC, and many more.
During the summit a special announcement will be made by Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) and former WWE professional wrestler. Joining Chris will be a former Super Bowl champion and an Olympic gold medalist, each of whom will be using this summit to announce that they will be donating their brains to the CLF for the purposes of advancing brain health. CLF has partnered with VA and Boston University to establish the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank, directed by VA’s own Dr. Ann McKee, now the largest sports mTBI and chronic traumatic encephalopathy repository in the world with over 325 brains donated, and over a thousand more pledged.
“VA is uniquely positioned to contribute to the care of Veterans with traumatic brain injury,” said VA Secretary Bob McDonald. “The work we do produces results and life changing improvements in care for Veterans — as well as for all Americans, and for people around the world who suffer from these brain related injuries.”
The following organizations are teaming up with VA as event partners: Amazon, Booz Allen Hamilton, Comcast, GE Healthcare, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Optum Health, and Philips.
To learn more about Brain Trust: Pathways to InnoVAtion, please visit: www.va.gov/p3/braintrust.asp #VABrainTrust
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how can 30 years of residual issues from my tbi be considered mild? when I first had my head injury it was here take some tylenol!! so tired of this crap, just because I am female doesn’t mean I wasn’t injured and am still having problems!
My son had tried for years to get help for his PTSD and other health issues, so I understand the frustration. Right now he is going to the VA 4-5 days a week for counseling. He needs to see someone for Renal ASAP but he is still waiting and his body is deterating. He needs to see someone for his liver and he is still waiting. He needs a MRI and he is still waiting. He is afraid he will have to go on dialialis. It took forever to get in to see his primary for a chance to get on the lists for help. His commanders are pressuring him to get out, they are reading his emails and are ordering him to stop talking to other military leaders as he struggles to find someone to help him. He was wanted at 17 but the last 8 years have been a struggle for him to find help. This is 1 Mother who truly understands the frustration.
I saw that Israel medics carry a cannabis oil that has shown to almost stop the swelling and increase better out come by nearly 100% of soldiers . Their National Health Department has all kinds of research on the subject. I just hope one day our country can just say that it has been proven to be highly effective in treating many ailments. As it once did before 1937 when it was taken out of the local pharmacy given for many treatment and approved by the U.S. HEALTH DEPARTMENTS . We all know the truth, just let it happen for the less side effects. Big Pharmaceutical companies have no right to use our government as paid for puppets. Remember for the people by the people. Not BOUGH AND PAID for Big CORPORATIONS. Do something for the less side effects, like may cause oily discharge for cholesterol medication or may make you think of committing suicide when taking anti depression medication. Come on get it together.
I have had A head ache for almost 50 years. Constant. All my VA Dr. wants to do is feed me pills and the V.A. will not recognize that it is service related.
It started about 2 months after being wounded in the head from a mortar, but thare are no records of it they tell me even tho’ I complained about it before I came home. About 15 years after I came home I went to a V.A. Host. in CA, but nothing done there .
24/7/365 my head hurts! Sure would like relief.
I have just gotten my second dose of botox injections. First one didn’t work. We’ll see about this one.
I am a Vietnam vet.In the past I had nervous symptoms.I was made aware of Dr.Abraham Low and his RI method and got well.Now I have Parkinson and found you can retrain your brain to som= extent .in a simular manner like the method from Dr.Low.
It doesn’t matter what is wrong with you as long as those ASSHOLES in Detroit shoot your request down. I have been trying to get help about my health & trouble sleeping for some time . All they send back is more tests.