| Teaching Research Institute awarded grant to support people with traumatic brain injury
for release: Oct. 5, 2010
MONMOUTH – Researchers at the Center on Brain Injury Research and Training (CBIRT) at the Eugene office of Western Oregon University’s Teaching Research Institute (TRI) have been awarded a grant of $600,000 from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research, a branch of the U.S. Department of Education. The primary focus of the project will be the development of a Web-based interactive information and training program for family caregivers of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The grant began Oct. 1, 2010 and runs through Sept. 30, 2013.
"CBIRT’s combination of training and technical assistance grounded in field-based research has established it as a national leader in the provision of school-based services to students with TBI. In 2009, CBIRT was chosen by the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation as one of its Centers of Excellence, and as the organization’s national center for school reintegration. The work of the center will help ensure that children and their families receive access to appropriate services and resources.
TBI is a serious public health problem in the United States. Recent data from the CDC shows that, on average, approximately 1.7 million people sustain a traumatic brain injury annually. The incidence of TBI is widespread. Those impacted include veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and individuals who have sustained injuries resulting from motor vehicle crashes, sports injuries, and other causes.
Ann Glang, Ph.D., a senior fellow and research professor at TRI, will lead a team of researchers as they work to identify the critical needs of caregivers and develop the web-based program. During the third and final year of the project, the research team will evaluate the program using a randomized control trial with a national sample. This project will fill a gap for families struggling to provide support to a family member who has sustained a TBI. According to Glang, “Families of individuals with brain injuries continue to struggle to find information and resources to provide support for their family member. This project will allow us to develop a site where families can go to get practical, evidence-based information on strategies for managing the challenges of TBI.”
The TBI Family Support project is the latest in a series of research grants awarded to CBIRT. Established in 1993, CBIRT faculty conducts research and training to improve the lives of children and adults with TBI. CBIRT’s research focuses on developing interventions to improve outcomes related to education, employability, and quality of life. Training activities promote the use of best practices among educators and other professionals who serve individuals with TBI.
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