Concussion Legacy Foundation partners with Wounded Warrior Project to power veteran brain bank research on TBI, CTE, PTSD

Collaboration promotes Project Enlist, asks veterans to pledge to donate their brain

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(BOSTON) – The Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) announced today a foundational partnership with Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) to power Project Enlist, a CLF program that serves as a catalyst for research on traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans.

Project Enlist encourages all active service members and veterans to pledge to donate their brain to advance research at ProjectEnlist.org. Nearly 8,000 people, including 1,000 veterans, have already taken the pledge.

CLF is the outreach arm of the US Department of Veterans Affairs-Boston University-CLF Brain Bank, the world’s largest CTE research center. Project Enlist is designed to replicate CLF’s success recruiting American football players, as the brain bank now studies the brains of more than one out of every three NFL players after they die. Project Enlist is designed to bring the same visibility to the long-term effects of brain trauma in the military as it has the NFL.

“We don’t have all of the answers for veterans right now,” said Chris Nowinski, Ph.D., CLF co-founder and CEO. “Brain bank research is an essential step in developing effective treatments for TBI, CTE and PTSD so we can protect and support the heroes who courageously fight for our nation.”

The Department of Defense has reported more than 400,000 TBIs among service members in the last 20 years. Brain donation research at the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank and other leading brain banks will allow scientists to gain a better understanding of the unique effects of military brain trauma exposure, leading to diagnosis during life, treatment, and better outcomes. Partnering with leading veteran service organizations like WWP is critical to creating awareness of the need for brain donation among veterans and their families.

“It is very important to spread the message about brain injury,” said Alex Balbir, WWP Independence Services Director. “Working with the Concussion Legacy Foundation can help us learn better ways to care for and treat these invisible wounds.”

In addition to research, CLF supports military service members and their families suffering from the effects of brain trauma through the CLF HelpLine. The HelpLine provides personalized guidance to those struggling with concussion or suspected CTE symptoms by connecting them to clinicians and peer support volunteers.

WWP addresses TBI through a number of programs and services. WWP’s Independence Program helps warriors and families living with moderate to severe TBI. Independence Program helps warriors overcome obstacles and exceed goals. WWP’s Warrior Care Network is a partnership with four top academic medical centers that treat post-traumatic stress disorder and TBI. Clinical treatments at Warrior Care Network sites improve symptoms and quality of life.

In addition to WWP’s foundational funding and outreach partnership, the Robert Irvine Foundation and MAG Aerospace have formed partnerships with CLF to support Project Enlist. Other organizations that would like to partner with Project Enlist can reach out to Julia Manning at jmanning@concussionfoundation.org.