# VA-DoD Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC): Data and Biostatistics Core

> **NIH VA I01** · VA SALT LAKE CITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM · 2020 · —

## Abstract

The Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (CENC; W81XWH-13-2-0095) has been a highly productive,
coordinated, multicenter, basic science-to-bedside, research collaboration led by VCU/VA researcher David
Cifu, MD and jointly funded since 2013 by the DoD and VA. CENC linked basic, translational, epidemiologic,
and clinical neuroscience researchers from the VA, military, academia, and private sector to effectively address
the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic ramifications of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and its potential
long-term effects. Experienced and proven researchers from the CENC comprise the LIMBIC team at the level
of Consortium Leadership, Core Facility, and Research Study Directors. This proven team of leaders,
infrastructure supporters and researchers will initiate targeted, expanded research studies that extend CENC
research findings, address all priorities (required and secondary research elements) detailed in the program
announcement, and will produce deliverables for the clinicians in the field.
The four infrastructure Cores (Biomarkers, Neuroimaging, Data and Biostatistics, Clinical Studies) will work in
concert to accomplish three overarching, interrelated aims:
Aim 1. Transition and expand CENC to LIMBIC -- Enroll and expand sizes of relevant cohorts of Veterans and
Servicemembers; expand data points collected; collect data in accordance with established guidelines; and
identify and describe key characteristics of populations to guide rigorous studies on the nature and degree of
mTBI late effects in combat Vs/SMs over time.
Aim 2. Comorbidities & Neurologic sequela -- Determine prevalence and associations of mTBI with important
comorbidities and neurologic sequela, such as dementia and neurodegenerative disease, pain, psychological
health including PTSD, and neurosensory deficits. Determine nature and degree of mTBI late effects over time.
Aim 3. Phenotypes -- Identify characteristics (e.g., repetitive mTBI, deployment-only mTBI, frequent low level
blast or other subconconcussive head/brain impact exposure, baseline neurocognitive deficits, presence of
neurologic signs, presence of symptoms), pathophysiology, biomarkers, and subpopulations (e.g., women) that
serve as risk or protective factors for long-term outcomes such as neurodegeneration, symptom burden and
health economics.
LIMBIC will continue the mission begun by CENC, which has the Veterans, Service Members, and their family
members at the center of the work performed, to develop, deploy, and disseminate patient-centered health
care tools and strategies. Work conducted to-date has expanded knowledge in the areas of chronic pain,
sleep, sensory disorders, psychological health, and return to work. Knowledge translation underway includes
improving both care and systems of care to the population, translatable to both military and the general public
populations. We are poised to achieve LIMBIC’s intent to “improve acute TBI care and subsequent support
systems fo...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10000608
- **Project number:** 1I01RX003442-01
- **Recipient organization:** VA SALT LAKE CITY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
- **Principal Investigator:** Mary Jo Pugh
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2019-10-01 → 2024-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10000608

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10000608, VA-DoD Long-Term Impact of Military-Relevant Brain Injury Consortium (LIMBIC): Data and Biostatistics Core (1I01RX003442-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10000608. Licensed CC0.

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