Recap: The 2022 TBI Grand Challenge Kickoff

On March 3, researchers from across the University of Michigan joined with the Weil Institute to mark the official start of the 2022 Massey TBI Grand Challenge. Supported by the Massey Family Foundation, the TBI Grand Challenge is an annual competition that seeks to fund high-risk ideas and innovations targeting the initial “golden hours” of care after a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

The March 3 kickoff event began with a presentation from U-M Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine Dr. Fred Korley, who asked attendees an important question: Why TBI? Dr. Korley spoke about the immense societal burden of this condition that causes an estimated $758 billion in lifetime costs in the United States alone. “TBI is not just a single event,” Korley explained. “It can become a lifelong condition that places tremendous burden on patients as well as families and caregivers.” He also spoke on the profound disparity of funding for TBI research when compared to other critical illnesses and injuries. “We appreciate those like the Massey Family who are investing in TBI research and helping to address this disparity,” he said.

Following Dr. Korley was the day’s keynote speaker, Virginia Commonwealth Professor and Chair of Neurosurgery Dr. Alex Valadka. Dr. Valadka’s presentation, “Traumatic Brain Injury is like Swiss Cheese” focused on the major gaps in TBI research, demonstrating how TBI is a field ripe for innovation. One of the potential research opportunities Valadka highlighted was non-invasive analysis of TBI (through data analytics, novel devices, etc.), an area which has had a strong showing in previous Grand Challenges. He concluded his presentation with advice for teams who planned on submitting a project to the Grand Challenge. “Pick an important topic and do it well,” he said. “Think about the impact of your research.”

"We appreciate those like the Massey Family who are investing in TBI research and helping to address this disparity."

Frederick Korley, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine

The Department of Defense took the stage next after Dr. Valadka. From the Medical Readiness Systems Biology branch at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR), branch director Dr. Rasha Hammamieh discussed the impact of TBI in the military and covered 3 studies actively in development at WRAIR. “Traumatic brain injury is a huge military issue,” Dr. Hammamieh explained. “Tens of thousands of soldiers suffer it.” The studies she shared from her group focused on applying a collaborative, holistic approach to solving knowledge gaps in TBI, such as determining the role of gut-brain “cross-talk” in the body’s response to a brain injury, as well as identifying biomarkers to better differentiate between TBI severities.

After a short break, attendees tuned in to an inspiring story of TBI survivorship through Ryan Shami, a 24-year-old medical student, and Dr. Ryan Stork, the physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor who oversaw Shami’s recovery. The two Ryans first met when Shami shadowed Dr. Stork as part of his undergraduate education at the University of Michigan. One year later, Shami suffered a severe traumatic brain injury that placed him in a months-long coma. Shami and Dr. Stork took turns sharing their experiences following Ryan Shami’s awakening. A common thread throughout the conversation was how the steadfast support of Ryan Shami’s family bolstered Shami’s mindset and, in turn, his recovery. This powerful account from patient and doctor reminded Grand Challenge attendees of the impact of their work as well as how important family is to a patient’s rehabilitation journey.

The Grand Challenge kickoff event concluded with two final presentations. First, Weil Institute executive director Dr. Kevin Ward provided an overview of the Weil Institute and took attendees through the Grand Challenge process. Following Dr. Ward was Dr. Hakam Tiba, who demonstrated his team’s “TOBI” device, a Grand Challenge-winning wearable device that allows clinicians to non-invasively evaluate and monitor how well the brain is regulating blood flow to itself.

An important takeaway for attendees from both Dr. Ward and Dr. Tiba’s talks was the notion that no idea is too novel or high-risk for the Grand Challenge. The Grand Challenge is a competition in which—as Dr. Ward put it—“Science fiction isn’t out of the realm of possibility.”

The next and final event in the 2022 TBI Grand Challenge will be the “Wolverine Den” in June, when select teams will pitch their research ideas to a panel of experts in a Shark Tank­-style showdown.