“Public awareness of the pathological consequences of traumatic brain injury has been elevated not only by the recognition of the potential clinical significance of repetitive head injuries in such high-contact sports as American football and boxing, but also by the prevalence of vehicular crashes and efforts to improve passenger safety features, and by modern warfare, especially blast injuries. Each year, more than 1.5 million Americans sustain mild traumatic brain injuries with no loss of consciousness and no need for hospitalization; an equal number sustain injuries sufficient to impair consciousness but insufficiently severe to necessitate long-term institutionalization”. (Traumatic Brain Injury — Football, Warfare, and Long-Term Effects Steven T. DeKosky, M.D., Milos D. Ikonomovic, M.D., and Sam Gandy, M.D., Ph.D. NEJM 2010; 363:1293-1296 September 30, 2010).
The Brain Science Institute (BSi) is requesting applications for support of research in the area of “Traumatic brain injury: mechanisms and treatment.” Traumatic brain injury (TBI), including that induced by mild, repetitive, non-penetrating injuries (eg, sports-related concussion) represents an enormous public health problem that is inadequately understood, has uncertain predictors, and is not addressed by existing therapeutics. The term ‘chronic traumatic encephalopathy’ has been coined to encapsulate some of the persistent neurocognitive and behavioral deficits that follow multiple repetitive brain injuries. Improving this situation will require a better understanding of the circumstances and underlying mechanisms by which brain injuries, even when relatively minor, lead to progressive neurodegeneration. This might be exemplified by diverse processes including connectopathies, sustained inflammation, and/or accelerated aging. Further, more than half of those incurring mild, moderate or severe TBI are children, yet most experimental TBI studies have been performed in individuals with mature brains. Thus, another unfilled need exists for understanding how single and repetitive TBI of different severities, but especially mild, and at different stages of development influence short- and long-term outcomes. Over the past few months, BSi has organized and convened a TBI Working Group that has brought together investigators from over 12 Basic Science and Clinical Departments to discuss the frontiers of TBI. Examples of topics discussed, and around which BSi would welcome proposals have included
- Epidemiological approaches to defining the full range of neurocognitive and behavioral consequences of TBI, especially those related (but not limited) to mild and/or repetitive injury
- Small and large animal models of TBI, especially those related (but not limited) to mild and/or repetitive injury
- Delineation of the pathological processes underpinning the neurological and psychiatric dysfunction that follows TBI
- Development of imaging and soluble biomarkers for predicting outcomes in TBI, especially after (but not limited to) mild and/or repetitive injury
- Investigating mechanisms of somatic and axonal injury after TBI, especially related (but not limited) to mild and/or repetitive injury
- Designing therapies for acute neuroprotection and chronic repair, remodeling, and regeneration after TBI in immature and mature brain, especially related (but not limited) to mild and/or repetitive injury
The spectrum of these topics illustrates the potential advances that could come from studying TBI not only using conventional approaches, but also by adapting cutting-edge techniques from other areas of the biomedical sciences. Multidisciplinary investigators with relevant expertise who might not consider themselves as “TBI researchers” are likely to be key to success in this endeavor.
The BSi invites Johns Hopkins University faculty members to submit proposals for funding studies of the biological and pathological basis of TBI. Proposals involving mild and/or repetitive TBI are of particular interest, but the RFP is not confined to these areas. Research proposals may address the underpinning mechanisms of TBI, or the pathophysiological changes in the brain after TBI in both the developing and mature brain. Projects that will facilitate the translation of animal model findings into a better understanding of TBI are welcome, as are proposals that translate experimental discoveries into predictive biomarkers, or novel therapeutic strategies.
Successful proposals must meet the criteria of being novel and potentially transformative. The BSi will consider applications for individual, collaborative and interlinked (eg program project grants), as well as core ‘infrastructure’ grants. Young investigators, or investigators from other fields are particularly encouraged to apply.
We anticipate that the budget for applications will be up to $150K/year for individual grants. Collaborative grant proposals may be larger, but should provide substantive evidence of added synergy among the components. Core grant budgets will be up to $150K/year with limited additional start-up funds for equipment. The grants may be funded for 2 -3 years contingent on productivity and availability of funds. Principal and other investigator effort can be included on grants. Indirect costs will not be charged. A panel of external and internal investigators will score the applications. The proposals will be judged on the basis of (1) innovation, (2) promise to transform the field, and (3) the formation of new collaborative translational research groups. We discourage investigators from using this request to seek supplemental or bridge support for ongoing research programs.
The format for proposals is as follows. Proposals should not exceed four pages (excluding Appendices):
- Scientific abstract
- Goals/Aims of the project or platform
- Rationale
- Pertinent experience and/or preliminary data
- The scientific team and its leader(s): provide rationale for assembly of the group
- Anticipated pitfalls
- A 2-year budget, separating start-up and operating costs (NIH format)
- Anticipated milestones
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Appendices:
a) NIH type biosketch of investigators; b) Other Support (NIH format); c) supplemental figures (maximum of two pages)
Inquiries should be directed to Barbara Smith (bsmith13@jhmi.edu; 410-955-4504).
Applications should be submitted electronically as a single combined PDF to bsmith13@jhmi.edu.
The deadline for submission is March 2nd, 2012.
