Universities Receive Grant to Fund Care and Research of TBI

Wayne State University’s Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (WSU) and DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan (RIM) have received a grant to help fund the Southeastern Michigan Traumatic Brain Injury System (SEMTBIS).

The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) awarded the 5-year, $2.23 million grant to fund the care and research of patients with traumatic brain injury at SEMTBIS, one of 16 centers of excellence for TBI patients in the US.

“This is fantastic news for the patients of southeast Michigan who require the services of leading physical medicine and rehabilitation experts,” says Jack D. Sobel, MD, dean of WSU, in a media release. “The experts of WSU and RIM have a longstanding exceptional record of restoring quality of life to patients who have undergone a variety of life-changing illness and trauma.”

SEMTBIS, housed at RIM, conducts research in the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation, which is shared with other traumatic brain injury professionals and researchers throughout the world.

“This research grant will give us an opportunity to continue our longitudinal research on the recovery from traumatic brain injury, and also allow us to conduct research on optimizing outcomes in those who care for persons with traumatic brain injury,” states Robin Hanks, PhD, SEMTBIS project director and chief of Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology at RIM and WSU professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, in the release.

“This is an international collaboration between Wayne State University/RIM researchers and scientists in Australia. We have been fortunate to have a very active traumatic brain injury research program for over 20 years, and this grant will allow us to continue that important work,” Hanks adds.

In addition, WSU and RIM maintain the Traumatic Brain Injury National Database, which compiles data on the course of recovery and long-term outcomes following traumatic brain injuries from each of the 16 model systems.

“Thanks to the ongoing support of NIDILRR and our expert staff of physicians, researchers, neuropsychologists and rehabilitation professionals, SEMTBIS will continue to be one of the premier centers for the treatment and research of traumatic brain injuries,” shares William H. Restum, PhD, chief executive officer of RIM, per the release.

[Source(s): DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Business Wire]