Medical College of Wisconsin to Lead Landmark Multi-Center Clinical Trial in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

The Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) 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 (mTBI) and co-occurring disorders such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
 
Sponsored by Avalon Action Alliance, the Veteran’s Interdisciplinary Care for TBI and co-Occurring disorders Rehabilitation Trial (VICTORY-RCT) is one of the most rigorous rehabilitation studies of its kind to date. 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 TBI remains a leading cause of long-term disability and neurological impairment, affecting millions globally, including more than 500,000 veterans since 2000. Despite growing awareness around the lasting impact of concussion and brain trauma, access to coordinated, evidence-based interdisciplinary rehabilitation remains limited and inconsistent nationwide.
 
MCW will serve as the coordinating site for the trial, with internationally recognized TBI expert Michael McCrea, PhD, ABPP, serving as the Principal Investigator. Dr. McCrea is a professor and vice chair of research in the Department of Neurosurgery at MCW and interim executive director of the Wisconsin Institute of NeuroScience (WINS).
 
Avalon Action Alliance awarded MCW a $7.5 million clinical trial agreement to conduct the study over the next four years, representing a major national investment in advancing evidence-based care for veterans and first responders who are living with the enduring effects of traumatic brain injury and co-occurring conditions.
 
The VICTORY-RCT study is designed to assess the 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 with its BRAVE (Building Resilience through Action in Veterans and First Responders) program, the Midwest’s only comprehensive treatment center focused on TBI, PTSD, and other invisible wounds that affect military veterans and first responders.
 
Additional participating clinical sites include:

• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill – THRIVE Program
• University of Florida Health Jacksonville – Leon L. Haley Jr., MD, Brain Wellness Program
• University of Colorado Anschutz – Marcus Institute for Brain Health
• Jefferson Health – MossRehab Institute for Brain Health (Pennsylvania)

The participating programs provide individualized care that includes neurological and physical rehabilitation, psychiatry and psychotherapy, and treatment for TBI symptoms such as dizziness, memory loss, and concentration difficulties. Treatment plans are tailored to each participant’s specific needs. Preliminary outcomes from Avalon-supported programs have shown significant promise, leading to the launch of the VICTORY-RCT study.
 
While the study population will focus on veterans and first responders, researchers believe the findings could have far-reaching implications for the broader field of brain injury medicine, including civilian populations impacted by concussion, trauma, and chronic neurological symptoms.
 
“The VICTORY-RCT study employs the highest level of scientific rigor to evaluate a rehabilitation model that has the potential to meaningfully improve quality of life for individuals coping with the persistent effects of traumatic brain injury,” said Dr. McCrea. “We’re deeply honored to partner with Avalon Action Alliance and lead an effort that could help advance care for those injured in the line of duty, as well as for individuals worldwide affected by brain injury.”
 
Joe Brennan, CEO of Avalon Action Alliance, emphasized the importance of building stronger evidence to improve long-term care access and outcomes.
 
“Avalon was created to ensure veterans and first responders can access the right care at the right time,” Brennan said. “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.”
 
The VICTORY-RCT study reflects growing collaboration among healthcare institutions, researchers, philanthropic organizations, and veteran-serving organizations working together to advance innovation in brain injury rehabilitation. Through its alliance network, Avalon Action Alliance has helped connect leading clinical programs and researchers nationwide to support a more coordinated approach to treating TBI and co-occurring conditions.

About the Medical College of Wisconsin

With a history dating back to 1893, the Medical College of Wisconsin is dedicated to leadership and excellence in education, patient care, research, and community engagement. More than 1,600 students are enrolled in MCW’s medical, graduate, and pharmacy schools at campuses in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Central Wisconsin. MCW’s School of Pharmacy opened in 2017. A major national research center, MCW ranks in the top 1% of U.S. research institutions (National Science Foundation), is the largest research institution in the Milwaukee metro area and is the largest private research institution in Wisconsin. Annually, our faculty direct and/or collaborate on more than 3,800 research studies, including clinical trials. In the last 10 years, the MCW faculty has received nearly $2 billion in external support for research, teaching, training, and related purposes. Additionally, MCW’s 1,800+ physicians provide care in every specialty of medicine, annually fulfilling more than 4.8 million patient visits. 
 
About Avalon Action Alliance

Avalon Action Alliance is a national nonprofit organization addressing the invisible wounds of service through a coordinated national alliance of care providers and programs for veterans and first responders navigating traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress (PTS), and substance abuse (SA). By connecting individuals to specialized treatment and posttraumatic growth programs across the country, Avalon is improving access to care, advancing clinical research, and helping establish more effective standards of care for those impacted by brain injury and related conditions.