Miami Project Researchers Share Neurotrauma Discoveries at National Symposium
Researchers from The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis presented new findings on traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and recovery science at the National Neurotrauma Society Symposium, highlighting discoveries that could help improve treatment and outcomes for patients with neurological injuries.
Researchers from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis shared new discoveries in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and neurotrauma research at the 43rd Annual Symposium of the National Neurotrauma Society (NNS). The conference brought together scientists, clinicians and trainees from around the world to discuss emerging research in brain injury, spinal cord injury and related neurological conditions.
The symposium highlighted the importance of innovative thinking and cross-disciplinary collaboration in neurotrauma research. More than 600 participants attended the meeting, which featured 95 invited speakers and more than 329 scientific abstracts exploring new approaches to understanding and treating traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury and peripheral nerve injuries.
“This year’s theme, ‘Brainstorming for Breakthroughs,’ reflected the need for bold ideas, creative thinking and cross-disciplinary problem-solving to drive innovation in the field of neurotrauma,” said Miami Project Scientific Director W. Dalton Dietrich, Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery and senior associate dean for team science at the Miller School.
What the Research Found and Why It Matters
Researchers from the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis presented findings that may advance understanding of traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury and neurological recovery. Their studies highlighted biological mechanisms and risk factors that may influence injury severity, recovery trajectories and long-term outcomes.
- Electronic cigarette nicotine exposure increased brain injury severity after mild traumatic brain injury in female preclinical models.
- Combined exposure to electronic cigarettes and oral contraceptives altered pathways involved in neurotransmission and calcium signaling, suggesting a previously underrecognized female-specific risk factor that may worsen TBI outcomes.
- Research on spinal cord injury identified different fibroblast sources that form the fibrotic scar at injury sites in preclinical models, with future work aimed at determining where these subpopulations are located and how they contribute to injury-site pathology.
- Research on spinal cord injury identified different fibroblast sources that form the fibrotic scar at injury sites in preclinical models, with future work aimed at determining where these subpopulations are located and how they contribute to injury-site pathology.
- Chronic oxycodone exposure affected anxiety-related and social behaviors after mild TBI, offering new insight into how opioid use may influence long-term neurological recovery.
Traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury remain leading causes of disability worldwide. By identifying novel risk factors, uncovering biological mechanisms of recovery and advancing the search for therapeutic targets, this research may help inform future strategies to improve outcomes and quality of life for people living with neurological injuries.
For Miller School investigators, the meeting provided an opportunity to showcase research spanning basic science, translational neuroscience and recovery-focused studies while connecting with leaders across the neurotrauma community. Faculty members, trainees and students participated in scientific sessions, poster presentations, mentoring opportunities and networking events throughout the conference.
Investigating Cellular Responses After Spinal Cord Injury
Jae Lee, Ph.D., a professor in the Miller School’s Department of Neurological Surgery, expanded the symposium’s spinal cord injury focus as co-chair of “Cellular Crosstalk and Collective Contributions to Tissue Damage after Neurotrauma.” The session brought together four faculty members from different institutions to examine how neurons, glia and immune cells interact after spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury.
Dr. Lee also discussing how different sources of fibroblasts form the fibrotic scar at spinal cord injury sites in preclinical models and how those populations may contribute in distinct ways to injury-site pathology. The next phase, he said, is to validate where those fibroblast subpopulations are located at the injury site and determine their functional contributions.
New Insights Into Female-Specific Traumatic Brain Injury Risks
Ami Raval, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Neurology at the Miller School, presented findings from a study examining how electronic cigarette nicotine exposure and oral contraceptive use affect recovery after mild traumatic brain injury in female preclinical models. The work demonstrated that nicotine exposure increased brain injury severity and that combined exposure to electronic cigarettes and oral contraceptives resulted in significant changes in pathways involved in neurotransmission and calcium signaling.
The findings suggest that this combination may represent a previously underrecognized female-specific risk factor that worsens traumatic brain injury outcomes. The collaborative project was funded by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and led jointly by Dr. Raval and Helen Bramlett, Ph.D., professor of neurological surgery at the Miller School.
Dr. Raval said the team plans to publish the findings and continue investigating the biological mechanisms that contribute to these effects. The research reflects a growing effort among neurotrauma scientists to better understand how sex-specific factors influence injury and recovery.
Exploring the Long-Term Effects of Opioid Exposure After Brain Injury
The symposium also highlighted the work of the next generation of neurotrauma researchers. Maykeling Arauz, a second-year Ph.D. candidate at the Miller School who works under Dr. Coleen Atkins’ mentorship, presented a poster exploring how chronic oxycodone exposure affects recovery after mild traumatic brain injury. Using a preclinical model, Arauz found that traumatic brain injury altered opioid withdrawal severity, while oxycodone independently affected anxiety-related and social behaviors. The study provides new insight into how opioid use may influence long-term neurological recovery following brain injury.
Arauz plans to build on those findings by investigating the biological processes that drive these behavioral changes. Future studies will examine neuroinflammation, gene expression and gut microbiome changes following traumatic brain injury and chronic oxycodone exposure. By integrating behavioral and molecular data, the work aims to identify therapeutic targets that could improve recovery for patients living with brain injuries.
Advancing Treatments for Traumatic Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
Traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries remain major public health challenges and leading causes of disability worldwide. Advances in understanding the biological factors that influence injury severity, recovery and long-term outcomes are essential for developing more effective treatments. Research presented by Miller School investigators at the National Neurotrauma Society Symposium is helping address those challenges by identifying novel risk factors, uncovering biological mechanisms of recovery and advancing the search for therapies that can improve quality of life for patients affected by neurological injury.
“These meetings expose us to the latest advances in traumatic brain and spinal cord injury research, foster new collaborations and help identify innovative approaches that can accelerate the translation of laboratory discoveries into therapies that improve patient outcomes,” said Dr. Bramlett.
“Symposiums like this are integral to our work at The Miami Project,” Dr. Raval said, “because they bring together scientists from diverse disciplines, fostering collaborations and the exchange of new ideas that accelerate discovery.”
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Tags: Dr. Ami Raval, Dr. Dalton Dietrich III, Dr. Helen Bramlett, Dr. Jae Lee, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, pain and cognitive function, spinal cord injury