This RAND Corporation report, commissioned by Invisible Wounds Foundation, reviews ten years of U.S. military traumatic brain injury research and examines how research investments since 2015 have shaped scientific progress. The study identifies advances in areas such as neuroimaging and biomarker research while also revealing persistent gaps that continue to limit the development of reliable diagnostics, treatments, and prevention strategies for service members.
The report is intended to inform funders, researchers, and policymakers about where military brain injury research has advanced and where greater coordination and strategic investment are needed.
Key findings and implications include:
- Meaningful progress in neuroimaging and biomarker research, with limited translation into clinical practice.
- Fragmentation across research efforts, reducing cumulative impact and coordination.
- Insufficient emphasis on long-term, longitudinal studies that reflect the chronic nature of TBI.
- Opportunities to align funding, data sharing, and research priorities to accelerate scientific and clinical progress.
