Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Research at Hennepin Healthcare
Hennepin Healthcare / HCMC, formerly Hennepin County Medical Center, has a long tradition of providing quality care for patients with all types and severity of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Clinical research, under the auspices of Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute (HHRI), has been a major part of the neurosurgical trauma program for over 35 years and continues with numerous projects. Current research staff includes:
Thomas Bergman, MD, Hennepin Healthcare staff from 1988-present and current Chief of Neurosurgery, is involved in several research projects; including the Hyperbaric Oxygen Brain Injury Treatment Trial (HOBIT), Cortical Spreading Depolarization, and E-STAND (Epidural Stimulation After Neurologic Damage) clinical trial.
Walter Galicich, MD, has been a Hennepin Healthcare staff neurosurgeon since 1998 and is the current Medical Director of Hennepin Healthcare’s Traumatic Brain Injury Center. Dr. Galicich is active in the Hyperbaric Oxygen Brain Injury Treatment (HOBIT) trial, Cortical Spreading Depolarization After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury, and E-STAND (Epidural Stimulation After Neurologic Damage) clinical trials.
David Darrow, MD is the Rockswold-Kaplan Endowed Chair for Traumatic Brain Injury, which was created in 2014 to advance research and innovation at the Hennepin Healthcare's Traumatic Brain Injury Center. Dr. Darrow is an Assistant Professor at the University Medical School's Department of Neurosurgery. Dr. Darrow's appointment reflects a renewed programmatic effort to foster collaboration between Hennepin Healthcare and the University of Minnesota. Dr. Darrow leads the Cortical Spreading Depolarization After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury trial with Dr. Samuel Cramer and is also the Principal Investigator for the E-STAND trial.
Gaylan Rockswold, MD, PhD, former Chief of Neurosurgery (1976-2011) and former Medical Director of Hennepin Healthcare’s Traumatic Brain Injury Center (2006-2015), is the lead Principal Investigator in the HOBIT trial.
Sarah Rockswold, MD is a co-investigator in the HOBIT trial and has also been a key researcher in several hyperbaric oxygen research studies. Dr. Rockswold also has an extensive background in brain injury research at Hennepin Healthcare with a focus on oculomotor (vision) dysfunction following TBI.
Current Research Trials
Hennepin Healthcare also contributes to the research community in other important ways. In 2015, thanks to strong advocacy from Hennepin Healthcare staff, the Minnesota State Legislature established the Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program. Hennepin Healthcare, as well as other institutions, have been awarded grant funding through this program. Dr. Sarah Rockswold sat on the Program’s Statewide Advisory Council from 2015-2019. Matthew Puderbaugh, DO, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation provider, serves on the council currently.
For more information about TBI research or clinical care, please contact the Traumatic Brain Injury Coordinator at 612-873-3284.
View the Traumatic Brain Injury Center page, the Traumatic Brain Injury Outpatient Program page, the Knapp Rehabilitation page, or the Pediatric Brain Injury Program page for more information.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Brain Injury Treatment (HOBIT) trial
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Brain Injury Treatment (HOBIT) trial is a Phase 2 Adaptive, multicenter trial funded by a $10 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. Hennepin Healthcare is one of twelve Level 1 trauma center hospitals nationwide enrolling patients in this TBI study and the only institution involved in this research in Minnesota.
The HOBIT trial centers on how the injured brain utilizes oxygen and studies the use of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in people with severe traumatic brain injury. Researchers at Hennepin Healthcare have been investigating the potential of delivering hyperbaric oxygen acutely to patients with severe TBI for 30 years. These many research studies, including NIH funded studies, have set the tone for today’s research and resulted in numerous publications.
Favorable clinical outcomes and mortality rates from severe TBI have not significantly improved over several decades. Statistically, the death rate for individuals who suffer a severe TBI remains at 30-40%, and the percentage of patients who regain meaningful function following a severe TBI remains low. The HOBIT trial is assessing if this treatment can eventually reduce mortality and improve the overall outcomes seen with severe TBI.
Visit the Hyperbaric Medicine webpage to learn more about hyperbaric oxygen treatment and research at Hennepin Healthcare.
Cortical Spreading Depolarization After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury trial
The Cortical Spreading Depolarization After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury trial has the potential to impact the collective knowledge base regarding severe traumatic brain injury. Cortical spreading depolarizations (CSDs), are massive electrical waves that occur after a traumatic brain injury and disrupt brain function. CSDs could cause additional secondary injury to the brain. This study aims to gain an improved understanding of the factors that influence these CSDs. With this knowledge, strategies could be developed to reduce or stop CSDs from occurring, thereby reducing the secondary damage that occurs following a severe impact to the brain. This study is funded through the Minnesota Spinal Cord Injury and Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program.
E-STAND (Epidural Stimulation After Neurologic Damage)
The goal of this trial is to test and optimize the use of spinal cord stimulation to restore volitional movement and other function in patients who have a complete spinal cord injury causing paraplegia. Visit the E-STAND website for more information.
