SESSION TITLE

Secondary Conditions after TBI: Headache, Neuroendocrine & Neuropsychiatric Sequelae Preclinical Models

DESCRIPTION

Considerable strides have been made in the survival rate of TBIs and SCIs at the level of the ICU. However, it has been difficult to identify treatment options for survivors suffering from long-term dysfunction.  To address this, improvements are needed in our animal models to better mimic the human condition. This session will address these problems by presenting data from multiple species to address several disparate conditions after TBI and SCI. Dr. Vonder Haar will present on psychiatric-related dysfunction after TBI using rat subjects. Dr. Floyd will present on pain assessment in large animal models of SCI. Dr. Wu will show data in mice relating to neuroendocrine problems after TBI. Dr. Levy will share results from studies modeling headache in rats after brain injury. While large-animal models or specialized behavioral analyses may not be feasible for every individual lab, this session will highlight where improvements may be made for studying secondary conditions and what types of collaborations may yield the most robust and reliable methods for bringing therapeutics from development to the clinic.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:

1. Communicate recent advances in animal models of human-relevant secondary functional outcomes
2. Describe the utility of novel animal behavioral models in the assessment of therapeutics
3. Understand the complexity of post-TBI management and the multiple syndromes that are linked to brain injury