Five questions with Col. Dallas Hack

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Hack

What do you think has contributed to the greater awareness of traumatic brain injuries in recent years?

The media attention to the care of Wounded Warriors in 2007 focused awareness on several issues including traumatic brain injury, calling TBI the signature wound of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. This led to a large appropriation to improve the care for TBI and psychological health and to significantly accelerate research in these areas. This was followed by increasing scrutiny of traumatic brain injuries in sports.

What are some of the most promising fields of research?

Improved screening and diagnostic tools for TBI show the most promise for early advances in care for traumatic brain injury. Much work is being done to develop improved treatments, including pharmaceuticals and advanced rehabilitation, but this will take somewhat longer to reach the clinic.

What are some of the ways in which the Army is studying mild traumatic brain injury?

More than 500 research projects in traumatic brain injury have been undertaken since 2007, almost half of which study mild TBI. Most of these projects are performed by partnering with academic researchers throughout the U.S.

As a leader in the field, how far do you think the U.S. may be from finding a treatment for TBI?

TBI is a very complex medical problem and will require multiple treatment modalities. Research has reaffirmed that mental and physical rest is currently the most helpful intervention. Rehabilitation techniques have been significantly improved in the last five years. The first pharmaceuticals to treat TBI should be available within the next five years.

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Five questions with Col. Dallas Hack