The Medical College of Wisconsin is leading a new multi-center clinical trial to evaluate an interdisciplinary rehabilitation model for military veterans and first responders with mild traumatic brain injury and co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to a June 30 announcement.
Sponsored by Avalon Action Alliance, the Veteran's Interdisciplinary Care for TBI and co-Occurring disorders Rehabilitation Trial (VICTORY-RCT) is described as one of the most rigorous rehabilitation studies of its kind. Researchers believe the findings could help shape future standards of care not only for veterans and first responders but also for civilians worldwide living with the long-term effects of traumatic brain injury.
Mild traumatic brain injury remains a leading cause of long-term disability and neurological impairment, affecting millions globally, including more than 500,000 veterans since 2000. Despite increased awareness about concussion and brain trauma impacts, access to coordinated evidence-based interdisciplinary rehabilitation remains limited nationwide. The Medical College of Wisconsin will serve as the coordinating site for the trial. Michael McCrea, professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Neurosurgery at MCW and interim executive director of the Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience, will be Principal Investigator.
Avalon Action Alliance awarded MCW a $7.5 million clinical trial agreement to conduct the study over four years. The VICTORY-RCT study is designed to assess both efficacy and durability of a three-week intensive outpatient rehabilitation program delivered across five Avalon TBI Center clinical sites nationwide. MCW recently launched the trial through its BRAVE program—described as the Midwest's only comprehensive treatment center focused on traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and other invisible wounds affecting military veterans and first responders.
Participating programs provide individualized care that includes neurological and physical rehabilitation; psychiatry; psychotherapy; and treatment for symptoms such as dizziness, memory loss, or concentration difficulties. Treatment plans are tailored to each participant’s needs. Preliminary outcomes from Avalon-supported programs have shown significant promise leading up to this larger-scale study.
Joe Brennan, CEO of Avalon Action Alliance, said: "Avalon was created to ensure veterans and first responders can access the right care at the right time. The VICTORY-RCT study represents an important step toward strengthening the clinical evidence behind comprehensive TBI rehabilitation, improving access to care, and helping establish more effective standards of care for individuals navigating the lasting effects of traumatic brain injury."
