Research

 

Medical rehabilitation is a complex, interdisciplinary system of inpatient and outpatient therapies that is part of more complex system that includes emergent and acute care following catastrophic illness or injury as well as networks that provide long term services and support. This system and its components provide opportunities for a broad diversity of applied research studies. The targets of current research at RHI range from interventions to reduce disability to ways to better measure rehabilitation effectiveness to leading edge methods to evaluate patients and maximize their outcomes.

 

Vision

A program of research integrated with clinical practice that establishes RHI as a world class neuroscience rehabilitation center.

 

Overview of Research RHI Conducts

• Identifying medications that enhance recovery following brain injury,
• Identifying commonly prescribed medications following brain injury that may have adverse effects on recovery
• Evaluating the effectiveness of group therapy for patients and families to improve coping skills
• Improving return to work rates by developing networks of community services
• Studying outcomes (community reintegration, well-being, life satisfaction) after brain and spinal injuries
• Collaborating with the Mayo Clinic Traumatic Brain Injury System, IU, Clarian/IUSOM, St. Vincent’s, Purdue

Referrals

As we continue to grow as a rehabilitation hospital and a leader in medicine and research development, RHI invites physicians to contact us about patients that could be eligible for rehabilitation and participation in our studies and medical advancement. The partnership between RHI and physicians is important in the continual effort to support and provide the best care for the patient.

Referral Contact

 

Current studies and research

Developing and Translating a Statewide System of Support and Collaboration Into Local Support Networks Integrated Through Resource Facilitation
Lance Trexler, PhD (PI), Laura Trexler, OTR, Alan Neuenschwander, Christa Peters, and Carol Baker – funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

• The goal of this project is to establish brain injury specific integrated, proactive and coordinated systems of supports and services at state and local levels to improve vocational outcomes for individuals after a brain injury.

Prevention of depression, enhancing cognitive recovery, and improving community participation in traumatic brain injury (TBI) with duloxetine
Lance E. Trexler, PhD (PI, RHI) and Phillip Zanateas, MD (RHI) - funded by Lilly, $153,913.

• Research Question:  Will a medication that enhances two neurotransmitters systems stabilize mood and improve recovery after brain injury?

 

An exploration of the hypocholinergic hypothesis of delirium following traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Jacob T. Kean, PhD (PI, RHI) – funded by Indiana TBI-SCI Research Fund, $119,171.

• Research Question:  Do commonly prescribed medications like stomach acid blockers that reduce choline (a neurochemical important for brain function) prolong confusion after brain injury?

 

Brain Injury Coping Skills Group for improving self-efficacy and adjustment in individuals with brain injury and their caregivers
Samantha Backhaus, PhD (PI, RHI), Lance E. Trexler, PhD (RHI), and James Malec, PhD (RHI) – funded by  Indiana SCI-TBI Research Fund, $119,893.
Pilot funding provided by the RHI Foundation Lisa Thompson Fund.

• Research Question:  Will a group that helps individuals with brain injury and a family member learn about brain injury and how to cope with it lead to less distress, better adjustment, and a sense of being “in control” of their situation?

 

Advocacy Training Clinical Trial (ATCT): Mayo Clinic TBI Model System
James  Malec, PhD (PI at RHI) National Institute for Disability and Rehabilitation Research, funding to RHI: $80,824.

• Research Question:  Will helping individuals with brain injury and their families learn to advocate for themselves lead to their feelings more satisfied with their lives and an increased sense of well-being and being “in control”?

 

Integrated data and trauma care outcomes
Joseph Thomas, PhD (Purdue); James Malec, PhD (PI; RHI), Jacob Kean, PhD (RHI) Susan Perkins and Tracie Pettit (IN Trauma Registry) Regenstrief Center for Healthcare Engineering, Purdue, West Lafayette, IN, funding to RHI: $15,000.

• Primary objective: Link four data resources (Indiana Trauma Registry, Indiana Medicaid, EMS, and hospital registries) for analysis of trauma treatment, disposition of trauma cases, and health outcomes.  Analyses conducted as part of this project will assess the impact of trauma on individuals’ receipt of state supported health coverage.

 

Developing and translating a statewide system of support and collaboration into local support networks, integrated through resource facilitation, data collection and outcomes measurement to enhance vocational outcome in acquired brain injury
Lance Trexler, PhD (PI, RHI), Laura Trexler (RHI), Carol Suratt-Bradley (IN Voc Rehab) and James Malec, PhD (RHI) - Health Resource Services Administration (HRSA), $978,982.

• A demonstration project to show that developing networks of community services and support for individuals after brain injury improves the rate of return to work. Currently only about 30% return to work after moderate to severe brain injury. The goal of this project is to increase this rate to 70%.

 

Randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of resource facilitation on return to work after traumatic brain injury: replication of a pilot study
Lance Trexler, PhD (PI, RHI) and Laura Trexler - Indiana Spine and Brain Injury Research Fund, $119,404.

• Research Question:  Does developing a network of community services and supports for individuals with brain injury improve the rate of return to work and community reintegration compared to standard care?

 

Outcomes and perceived needs among individuals with TBI and SCI in Indiana
James Malec, PhD (PI; RHI), Jacob Kean, PhD (RHI) Joseph Thomas, PhD (Purdue); Susan Perkins and Tracie Pettit (IN Trauma Registry) -Indiana Spine and Brain Injury Research Fund, $119,985.

• Research Question:  What are the outcomes (community reintegration, well-being, life satisfaction) and perceived needs after brain and spine injury for residents of Indiana?

 

Hyperactivity of the default neuroanatomical network following traumatic brain injury
Jacob T. Kean (PI, RHI), Indiana CTSI Young Investigator Award, $50,000.

 

Early prism adaptation intervention on rehabilitation outcomes in stroke patients with hemispatial neglect
Kevin Houston, O.D. (RHI/IUSOM), and Jake Streepey, PhD (IUPUI)

• Research Question:  Will training with visual prism correction reduce the impact of hemispatial neglect on functional independence post-stroke?

 

PROS (Patient Registry Outcomes in Spasticity) Care
Shashank Davé, MD (PI at RHI)

• This is a multi-center study of rehabilitation outcomes in patients with spasticity.

 

Bone and calcium metabolism of stroke patients with bone fragility fractures
Stacey Mobley, PhD (PI: Purdue); Angela Carbone, MD (Co-PI, RHI/IUSOM)

• Research Question:  Is vitamin D deficiency associated with increased fractures and bone fragility in stroke patients?

 

Transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) for mood, cognitive, sleep, and pain disorders after traumatic brain injury (TBI)
James Malec, PhD (PI, RHI), Aaron Cohen-Gadol, MD; Leisha Osborn (Clarian Neuroscience Institute, Indianapolis Neurosurgical Group, IU Neurosurgery), Shashank Davé, MD (IU PM&R), Ken Yoshida, PhD (IUPUI Biomedical Engineering)

• Research Question:  Can low current electrical brain stimulation be an effective treatment for depression following traumatic brain injury?

 

Use of external cuing to treat hypophonia in parkinson's disease
Jessica Huber, PhD (PI, Purdue), NIH

• Research Question:  Can an external cuing device enhance speech volume in patients with low speech volume due to Parkinson’s Disease?

 

A 12-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, fixed dosage study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a medication as treatment for patient with excessive sleepiness associated with mil or moderate closed traumatic brain injury
Richard Saini, MD (PI, Goldpoint Clinical Research, LLC) Sponsor: Cephalon, Inc.

• Research Question:  Will a specific medication reduce drowziness in patients with excessive sleepiness during the day due to TBI?