# Strengthening neuro-cognitive skills for success in school, work and beyond

> **NIH VA I01** · VA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE SYS · 2024 · —

## Abstract

Success in school is a top priority for many post 9-11 Veterans, representing a critical step on the path
toward full community reintegration and independence following service. However, student Veterans with
traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress (PTS) frequently experience issues with cognitive-
emotional dysregulation that interfere with school and other important life goals. Yet, scant empirical research
has evaluated cognitive rehabilitation approaches for student Veterans. Additionally, issues such as access,
stigma, and competing life demands often limit student Veterans’ use of traditional VA services to address their
cognitive and emotional concerns. Thus, we are challenged to consider novel approaches for improving college
success and life functioning among student Veterans with TBI and related conditions.
 As part of a larger clinical trial, this supplemental project will assess the feasibility, acceptability, and
utility of two novel neurocognitive trainings delivered via tele-video specifically for student Veterans with
history of TBI. Each intervention emphasizes a unique approach for improving TBI-associated difficulties with
goal-directed functioning, with clear and distinct intervention targets. One trains Veterans skills for effectively
regulating their cognitive-emotional state when pursuing their goals, especially when faced with challenges.
This training makes use of digital scenarios and remote coaching to support skill learning and generalization.
The second provides Veterans with psychoeducation regarding TBI and lifestyle factors to optimize brain
health. Both interventions utilize advances in tele-rehabilitation (e.g., online resources, digital apps, and
combinations of asynchronous content and interactive coaching over tele-video) to provide varied and
engaging learning experiences for Veterans in different locations and settings; both interventions are also
matched for intervention time, attention, and expectation of benefit. In a process that involves student
Veterans and college faculty as constituents, this supplemental project will also solicit feedback regarding
additional needs and preferences of student Veterans. Together, results from this supplemental study will
support ongoing iterative development of these interventions and form the basis for a clinical trial focused
specifically on student Veterans.
 Post-9/11 Veterans with a history of TBI who are currently enrolled in post-secondary education (ages
21-60) will be recruited for this study. Through a combination of surveys, behavioral logs, and semi-structured
interviews, participants will be queried regarding 1) the feasibility and acceptability of intervention
implementation via tele-video; 2) critical aspects of the intervention process involved with learning and making
use of training targets in academic and other life goals (e.g., perceived relevance and benefits of training topics
for school; intentions to apply training topics to acad...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10672865
- **Project number:** 3I01RX003141-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** VA NORTHERN CALIFORNIA HEALTH CARE SYS
- **Principal Investigator:** ANTHONY CHEN
- **Activity code:** I01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2019-11-01 → 2025-10-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10672865

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10672865, Strengthening neuro-cognitive skills for success in school, work and beyond (3I01RX003141-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10672865. Licensed CC0.

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