# Brain Rehabilitation Research Center

> **NIH VA I50** · VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION · 2020 · —

## Abstract

The Mission of the Brain Rehabilitation Research Center (BRRC) is:
 Maximize recovery of cognitive, emotion, and motor function in Veterans affected by neurologic injury or
 disease by potentiating neural plasticity and neural network reorganization through the discovery of
 mechanisms and innovation of treatments.
 The BRRC is a 19-yr consortium with three major institutions: North Florida/South Georgia VA Health Care
System, University of Florida (UF)/Shands Healthcare, and Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital. The BRRC
supports > 28 investigators (14 PIs with VA-funded studies, 14 associate investigators, and additional
collaborating investigators) and their teams. The BRRC supports a collaborative, interdisciplinary research
team, providing extensive facilities and resources for sophisticated human performance and brain function
measurement. Our planned research programs utilize specific neuroplastic mechanisms to recover cognitive,
emotion, and motor function. First, in the Cognition Function Initiative, we are developing innovative treatment
for impaired memory, executive function, and goal achievement in TBI survivors. Second, in the Emotion
Function Initiative, we are establishing new brain neuromarkers for objective diagnosis of PTSD and prediction
of psychotherapy response in the presence and absence of TBI. We are investigating the etiological,
pathological and neurophysiological mechanisms of PTSD comorbid with TBI, identifying brain networks
involved in the emotional consequences of PTSD/TBI, and testing novel interventions to aid in recovery of
emotion regulation. Third, in the Motor Function Initiative, we are investigating brain activation mechanisms
during walking and during upper limb movement, to elucidate pathology and identify more useful treatment
targets for inducing motor recovery. We are developing and feasibility-testing a new brain neural feedback
regimen (real time brain imaging) to improve upper limb function after stroke. We are testing several
innovative gait training interventions for stroke survivors: combination of gait coordination and brain stimulation;
backward walking training paradigm; enhancing sensory feedback during walking and testing emotional fear
factors related to fall self-efficacy; and feasibility-testing a protocol for a comparative effectiveness trial, for
long-term mobility and health for chronic stroke. Fourth, in the Rehabilitation Neuroscience Initiative (animal
and human models), we are refining our preclinical rodent models of TBI and SCI that reflect clinical symptoms
of chronic and persistent disabilities in human TBI/SCI. We are establishing reliable, quantitative, and clinically
translatable measures for assessing chronic multiple disabilities and for illuminating the role of TBI in chronic
human neurodegenerative disease. We are evaluating efficacy of combined interventions, such as locomotor
training and CNS stimulation, to mitigate TBI-induced disabilities. In stroke and TBI separately, we...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9910074
- **Project number:** 5I50RX003000-02
- **Recipient organization:** VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
- **Principal Investigator:** RUSSELL M BAUER
- **Activity code:** I50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** VA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** —
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-10-01 → 2024-09-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9910074

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9910074, Brain Rehabilitation Research Center (5I50RX003000-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9910074. Licensed CC0.

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