Scientific Aims

To achieve our research goals, we are developing a unique and powerful brain donor cohort, enriched with data on cognitive and physical function. We are building a comprehensive, open access repository for biospecimens, neuroimaging, and clinical data. We are sharing these valuable resources with the worldwide research community to facilitate medical discovery and ultimately support patient growth and recovery.

Scientific Aims

Aim 1: Recruit families of people with TBI or Alzheimer disease/dementia for donation of brain tissues after death, to make sure we include people from all walks of life and make our research helpful to more people. 

Aim 2: Learn more about how different types of TBI cause different symptoms, and how they may change over time.  

Aim 3: Use imaging and tissue-based methods that allow us to measure actual differences in the brains of people with TBI, and what these measurements tell us about people’s symptoms and experiences.  

Aim 4: Specifically study how the blood vessels in the brain are involved in TBI and what happens to them over time.  

Aim 5: Make what we learn, and our methods, available to other researchers and communities, so everyone can learn as much as possible about TBI and any relationship to Alzheimer disease/dementia. 

    • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

    • University of Washington 

    • Massachusetts General Hospital 

    • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

    • University of Utah 

    • UC San Francisco 

    • Utah State University 

    • King County Medical Examiner

    • Pierce County Medical Examiner

    • Snohomish County Medical Examiner 

    • NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner

    • Transforming Research and Clinical Knowledge in Traumatic Brain Injury (TRACK-TBI) 

    • Late Effects of Traumatic Brain Injury Project (LETBI)

    • EValuation Of Longitudinal Outcomes in Mild TBI Active-Duty Military and VEterans (EVOLVE)

    • Brain Injury Association of America

    • Pink Concussions

    • National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA)

  • Neuroimaging and clinical Endpoints With High-dimensional analysis Of Pathological Endophenotypes in TBI (NEW-HOPE-TBI) is a five-year grant (2024-2029) funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke and administered through the University of Washington (U01 NS137484; Principal Investigator: Dr. Dirk Keene). 
    Project Details

Resources for Researchers

  • Tissue Access

    Request access to biospecimens housed at the UW BRaIN Lab.

    Request

  • Digital Repository

    Request access to neuropathology resources at the Brain Digital Slide Archive. 

    request

  • Publications

    Access scientific publications by NEW-HOPE-TBI team and collaborators.

    access