Harry van Loveren, MD, chair of the USF Health Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, and interim chair of the Department of Internal Medicine, greets Paul Renner, speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, during Renner's visit to the University of South Florida campuses.
Update: The USF Health Morsani College of Medicine received the second $14 million, completing the full $28 million committed by the Legislature in the 2023 legislative session. This story has been edited to reflect the $28 million.
Researchers in the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine will conduct a clinical
research study to help determine if hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) can ease the
symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Florida’s veteran, active duty, and reserve
service members.
Through a grant from the Florida Legislature with a total allocation of $28 million,
USF Health researchers will conduct a clinical trial to study the efficacy of HBOT
on individuals with symptoms after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) with or without
symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study seeks to clarify if
HBOT will help individuals recover after TBI.
The USF Health-based clinical trial for HBOT will be a five-year, randomized, double-blind,
placebo-controlled study – the gold standard in academic research. The initial phase
of the clinical trial is underway. Actions include convening a national advisory panel
of experts and collaborating with the James A Haley Veteran’s Hospital and other community
leaders. The clinical trial is being led by Harry van Loveren, MD, professor and chair
of the USF Health Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair.
“Through this grant, Florida is making a serious investment in definitive research
that is designed to benefit all veterans in all states at its conclusion,” Dr. van
Loveren said. “It’s great that the State of Florida is initiating a project that can
have such broad benefits across the United States.”
Dr. van Loveren said the USF Health neurosurgery research group has spent years looking
at TBI from a variety of scientific perspectives and has been conducting TBI-focused
research for almost 20 years, producing nearly 100 peer-reviewed papers surrounding
the neuroscience associated with TBI. In addition, the team has conducted numerous
smaller state-funded clinical trials to study the effectiveness of HBOT in those who
suffer from TBI.
Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized environment
to fill the blood with enough oxygen that allows tissues to repair. HBOT is well known
for treating decompression sickness, serious infections, and air bubbles in blood
vessels.