A National biobank and database for patients with traumatic brain injury

Traumatic brain injury is the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults in Canada. Despite huge developments in basic neuroscience, no new therapies or diagnostic tests have been introduced in clinical care over the past 30 years. In the acute setting, neither clinicians nor researchers are able to predict long term outcome, which makes it difficult to tailor care, rehabilitation interventions or support services. Canadian scientists have previously been working separately, developing biobanks for studies of molecular biomarkers and studying mechanisms in laboratory models of TBI. The discovery and validation of molecular biomarker, in human, holds promise for diagnosis, outcome prediction and for monitoring response to new drugs or molecular therapies, rehabilitation and targeted psychotherapy. To study these promising biomarkers, an integrated translational biology approach is needed. The funding for this project will help link current and planned biobanks for traumatic brain injury, to a central state-of-the art neuroscience database at the Ontario Brain Institute. It will permit more rapid pilot studies with emerging laboratory technologies and novel approaches and will enable our scientists to be more competitive when applying for peer-reviewed funding. It will also position Canadian scientists to lead ground-breaking neuroscience research as part of the International Initiative for Traumatic Brain Injury Research. This Platform Support Grant provides an essential step to help Canadian scientists lead a paradigm shift in the care of these patients with traumatic brain injury.