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NCT Number: NCT04602806

Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) Precision Medicine Phase 2 Option 1

This study is being conducted to validate early and ultra-early blood-based and novel imaging biomarkers of Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and neuroinflammation that may serve as predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers in a new cohort of moderate-severe TRACK-TBI subjects. The study team will enroll a cohort of moderate to severe TBI subjects (N=50), stratified according to VA/DoD criteria for these injury severities through the existing TRACK-TBI network sites to obtain novel advanced neuroimaging and more frequent biomarker sampling. Subjects will be assessed over 3 months.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Conditions

Traumatic Brain Injury Behavior Brain Concussion Brain Diseases Brain Injuries Brain Injuries, Traumatic Central Nervous System Diseases Craniocerebral Trauma Head Injuries, Closed Nervous System Diseases Personal Satisfaction Psychological Well-Being Trauma, Nervous System Wounds and Injuries Wounds, Nonpenetrating

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States

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About this study

In 2009, the multicenter Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury Consortium was implemented to characterize the clinical, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and blood-based biomarker features of TBI to inform design of next-generation precision medicine clinical trials in TBI. Over the past 10+ years, TRACK-TBI has been supported by National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Energy (DoE), the National Football League, and other philanthropic and industry partners. TRACK-TBI has enrolled >3000 control and TBI subjects across the injury spectrum at 18 US Level 1 Trauma Centers. This effort has established the world's largest collection of TBI imaging studies and bio-specimens. The study results are already being adopted into clinical research and bedside practice. The TRACK-TBI Consortium is now primed to deliver on critical military and public health knowledge gaps and needs: objective classification of TBI based on what is termed as "mechanistic" endophenotypes, e.g., diffuse axonal injury (DAI), microvascular injury (MVI), and neuroinflammation. An endophenotype is an internal phenotype discoverable by biochemical, physiological, radiological, pathological, or other techniques, which is intermediate between a complex phenotype and the presumptive genetic or environmental contribution to a disease. Endophenotypes are quantitative, continuous variables, unlike a phenotype which is usually a binary, categorical variable. These mechanistic endophenotypes, defined by imaging and blood-based biomarkers, will direct targeted treatments based on mechanism, providing the tools needed for successful execution of precision medicine clinical trials. To achieve the goal of precision medicine in TBI, it is necessary to identify subgroups of TBI patients that will respond to a targeted therapy. Investigators will assess putative blood-based and neuroimaging biomarkers for DAI, MVI, and neuroinflammation. Fluid biomarkers complement imaging markers and may provide important tools for precision medicine clinical trials. Investigators will collect acute data (early and ultra-early i.e., hours-days following injury), to validate the utility of these biomarkers in defining TBI mechanistic endophenotypes for use in clinical trials.

Specific Aim for TRACK-TBI Precision Medicine Phase 2-Option 1: To validate early and ultra-early blood based and novel imaging biomarkers of DAI, MVI, and neuroinflammation that may serve as predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers in a cohort of moderate-severe subjects.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 - 65y inclusive
  • History or evidence of TBI, according to DoD-VA criteria
  • Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3 - 15 after resuscitation in the ED
  • Head CT with evidence of trauma-related abnormality (except for isolated epidural hematoma (EDH))
  • Ability to undergo MRI within 48 hours of injury
  • Ability to obtain informed consent from participant or Legally Authorized Representative (LAR) within 6 hours of injury
  • Fluency in English or Spanish

Exclusion criteria

  • Unstable respiratory or hemodynamic status
  • Evidence of penetrating brain injury
  • Isolated EDH as only trauma-related CT abnormality
  • Systemic traumatic injury that would preclude participation in study, which is expected to result in long-term disability not related to TBI
  • Evidence of serious infectious complications (sepsis, bacteremia, multilobar pneumonia)
  • Acute ischemic heart disease (myocardial infarction or unstable angina)
  • History of syncope or hypotension
  • Systolic blood pressure (SBP) < 90 mm Hg, Diastolic blood pressure (DBP)< 40 mm Hg for longer than 5 minutes
  • History or evidence of active malignancy
  • History of pre-existing neurologic disorder, such as dementia, mild cognitive impairment, uncontrolled epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, strokes, brain tumors, prior severe TBI, or other disorder that may confound interpretation of MRI or neuropsychological results
  • History of pre-existing disabling mental illness, such as major depression or schizophrenia
  • History or evidence of chronic heart failure or chronic renal failure
  • Low likelihood of follow-up (e.g., participant or family indicating low interest, residence in another state or country, unhoused or lack of reliable contacts)
  • Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding
  • Prisoners or patients in custody
  • Patients on psychiatric hold (e.g. 5150, 5250)

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

  1. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: < 6 hours from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  2. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: 12 hours from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  3. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: 24 hours from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  4. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: Day 2 from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  5. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: Day 3 from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  6. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: Day 5 from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  7. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: Week 4 from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  8. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: Week 6 from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  9. Blood Specimen for Analysis of Biomarkers

    Time frame: 3 Months from the time of TBI

    Using advanced blood-based assay platforms, levels of blood biomarkers neurofilament light chain (NfL), Tau, Interleukin 6 (IL6), Interleukin (IL10), and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) will be measured to validate their utility as early predictive and pharmacodynamic biomarkers for Diffuse Axonal Injury (DAI), Microvascular Injury (MVI), and Neuroinflammation. In addition, Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1)/Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) markers will also be assayed for comparison. All biomarkers will be measured in picograms/milliliter (pg/mL).

  10. 3 Tesla Brain Structural and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

    Time frame: Within 24-48 hours from the time of TBI

    This study aims to validate early and ultra-early novel imaging biomarkers in the acute phase after injury. In addition to volumetrics, Diffuse Tensor Imaging (DTI) and Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI), the MRI protocol will incorporate novel imaging measures of axonal density using neurite density index (NDI) from Neurite Orientation Dispersion And Density Imaging (NODDI) analysis of multi-shell diffusion MRI, cerebral blood flow using Arterial Spin Labeled (ASL) perfusion, and neuroinflammation using free water content isotropic diffusion fraction (FISO) from NODDI analysis of multi-shell diffusion MRI.

  11. 3 Tesla Brain Structural and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

    Time frame: 2 Weeks from the time of TBI

    This study aims to validate early and ultra-early novel imaging biomarkers in the acute phase after injury. In addition to volumetrics, Diffuse Tensor Imaging (DTI) and Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI), the MRI protocol will incorporate novel imaging measures of axonal density using neurite density index (NDI) from Neurite Orientation Dispersion And Density Imaging (NODDI) analysis of multi-shell diffusion MRI, cerebral blood flow using Arterial Spin Labeled (ASL) perfusion, and neuroinflammation using free water content isotropic diffusion fraction (FISO) from NODDI analysis of multi-shell diffusion MRI.

  12. 3 Tesla Brain Structural and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

    Time frame: 3 Months from the time of TBI

    This study aims to validate early and ultra-early novel imaging biomarkers in the acute phase after injury. In addition to volumetrics, Diffuse Tensor Imaging (DTI) and Resting State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (rs-fMRI), the MRI protocol will incorporate novel imaging measures of axonal density using neurite density index (NDI) from Neurite Orientation Dispersion And Density Imaging (NODDI) analysis of multi-shell diffusion MRI, cerebral blood flow using Arterial Spin Labeled (ASL) perfusion, and neuroinflammation using free water content isotropic diffusion fraction (FISO) from NODDI analysis of multi-shell diffusion MRI.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE)

    Time frame: 2 Weeks from the time of TBI

    The GOSE provides an overall measure of functional status based on information on cognition, independence, employability, and social/community participation collected via structured interview. Individuals are described by one of the eight outcome categories: Dead (1); Vegetative State (2); Lower Severe Disability (3); Upper Severe Disability (4); Lower Moderate Disability (5); Upper Moderate Disability (6); Lower Good Recovery (7) and Upper Good Recovery (8). Good Recovery is defined as a score of 7-8, Moderate Disability is defined by a score of 5-6 and Severe Disability is defined by a score of 3-4.

  2. Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE)

    Time frame: 6 Weeks from the time of TBI

    The GOSE provides an overall measure of functional status based on information on cognition, independence, employability, and social/community participation collected via structured interview. Individuals are described by one of the eight outcome categories: Dead (1); Vegetative State (2); Lower Severe Disability (3); Upper Severe Disability (4); Lower Moderate Disability (5); Upper Moderate Disability (6); Lower Good Recovery (7) and Upper Good Recovery (8). Good Recovery is defined as a score of 7-8, Moderate Disability is defined by a score of 5-6 and Severe Disability is defined by a score of 3-4.

  3. Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (GOSE)

    Time frame: 3 Months from the time of TBI

    The GOSE provides an overall measure of functional status based on information on cognition, independence, employability, and social/community participation collected via structured interview. Individuals are described by one of the eight outcome categories: Dead (1); Vegetative State (2); Lower Severe Disability (3); Upper Severe Disability (4); Lower Moderate Disability (5); Upper Moderate Disability (6); Lower Good Recovery (7) and Upper Good Recovery (8). Good Recovery is defined as a score of 7-8, Moderate Disability is defined by a score of 5-6 and Severe Disability is defined by a score of 3-4.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of California, San Francisco

Other

Collaborators

  • U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command

Registry information

Official study title

TRACK-TBI Precision Medicine Phase 2-Option I

Important dates

Study start
2021
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2030
First posted
Oct 26, 2020
Registry last updated
Apr 13, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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