The Translational Neurotrauma Laboratory studies traumatic brain injury (TBI) using preclinical model systems and novel clinical assessments. The goals are to determine thresholds for plasma membrane damage, probe for lipid biomarkers, determine biomarker efflux pathways from the brain to the blood, and introduce heterogeneity to study design. Clinical research includes development of multimodal concussion assessment tools and investigation of novel biomarkers.
Investigating Brain Lipidome Alterations Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Lipid biomarkers, while less studied than protein counterparts as TBI biomarkers, are attractive candidates for clinical translations given their higher abundance in the brain and ability to more readily penetrate endothelial cells comprising the blood brain barrier. Lipid biomarkers of acute mTBI are identified using an untargeted approach for the optimal selection of features able to differentiate injured and uninjured serum samples across time and injury severity.
Glymphatic Efflux Play a Key Role in Transport of Biomarkers of Traumatic Brain Injury
Due to the difficulties in diagnosing the severity of traumatic brain injury based on clinical examination alone, considerable effort has gone into developing plasma biomarkers of brain injury. Thus, several studies have shown that acute injury, including traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid bleeding or stroke, profoundly impact glymphatic function and impair convective fluid flow. Impairment of lymphatic function could further exacerbate injury due to accumulation of both normal metabolic waste as well as injury-induced debris.