Traumatic Brain Injury Imaging Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the role of biomarkers in traumatic brain injury using magnetic resonance imaging
IRAS ID
171706
Contact name
Tim Lawrence
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Traumatic brain injury remains a huge cause of death and disability world-wide. Our limited understanding of the disruption that occurs to the brain has resulted in difficulty identifying appropriate treatments and individualised care. There also remains a huge disparity in outcome between patients with seemingly similar injuries on early Computed Tomography (CT) scans. CT scans are currently the imaging modality of choice in the management of traumatic brain injury but the information that they provide us with is limited. We propose using an alternative imaging modality to characterize the early pathological process by measuring alterations in specific biomarkers in the acute phase. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), performed on patients with mild traumatic brain injury after the acute event, has provided promising advances in predicting prognosis. Until now it has been difficult to perform MRI scans on moderate and severe brain injury within 72 hours of the event. Oxford is equipped with a MRI scanner that is designed to accommodate these acutely unwell patients safely and provide high quality images using novel imaging techniques. This will help us offer patients targeted therapy, specific to their injury type, hopefully resulting in an improved outcome, in addition to furthering our knowledge of the pathophysiology of traumatic brain injury.
The aim is to recruit 30 patients admitted to the hospital with traumatic brain injury. Recruited patients will have an MRI scan within 72 hours of admission, and again at 7 days and 6 months. Blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples will also be taken. Follow up will be carried out at 6 months. This will include simple objective outcome measures in addition to neuropsychological assessment. 30 healthy volunteers will be recruited. They will undergo 1 MRI scan and have blood samples taken.
Funding for the scans will be provided by the Oxford Neurosurgery Research Fund.
REC name
South Central - Berkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SC/0687
Date of REC Opinion
1 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion