USU Professor Co-Founds and Leads New National Capital Area Neurotrauma Society
The National Capital Area Neurotrauma Society will foster multi-institutional collaboration, networking, and advocacy among neurotrauma researchers of the northeastern seaboard.
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An MRI technologist assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego conducts an MRI scan of a patient's brain. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Luke Cunningham, DVIDS) |
January 15, 2025 by Hadiyah Brendel
When the long-standing National Capital Area Traumatic Brain Injury meeting ended last year, it left a void in the local neurotrauma research community. Determined to keep those vital connections alive, Dr. Kimberly Byrnes, a professor at the Uniformed Services University (USU), co-founded the National Capital Area Neurotrauma Society (NCANS). The new society aims to bring together researchers and clinicians in the capital region to advance discoveries and improve patient outcomes.
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| Dr. Kimberly Byrnes, professor of APG at USU recently co-founded the National Capital Area Neurotrauma Society. The society aims to connect neurotrauma researchers and clinicians in the capital region to accelerate scientific discovery and improve patient outcomes. (Photo credit Tom Balfour, USU) |
Earlier this year, after the announcement that the National Capital Area Traumatic Brain Injury meeting, hosted by USU’s Military Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative (MTBI2) from 2011-2023, would no longer be held, Byrnes recognized the potential for a local neurotrauma society. At the close of that meeting, Byrnes says several colleagues approached her, including Dr. Marta Lipinski, associate professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Lipinski told Byrnes she knew of a lot of people, including herself, who didn’t want to see the meeting end. Although the National Neurotrauma Society would still hold annual events, interest spiked in maintaining local collaborations. After continued interest and emails from colleagues, the pair reached out to Dr. Mark Burns, professor at Georgetown University Medical Center.
“He said he talked to someone on the west coast and they recently formed a neurotrauma society there to do a local meeting. They suggested we do the exact same thing here,” says Byrnes. And thus, the capital region society was born. Byrnes serves as president, Lipinski as vice-president, and Burns as secretary/treasurer.
Byrnes says part of the high interest in keeping a network of neurotrauma physicians and researchers connected is due to the density of military institutions and spinal cord injury hubs between Philadelphia and Virginia Tech.
“Our goal is to be a local branch of the neurotrauma society. The National Neurotrauma Society does national and international activities; we want to serve the neurotrauma community here in the national capital area,” says Byrnes.
The NCANS aims to advance neurotrauma research and education by fostering collaboration, promoting public awareness, advocating for research funding at national and international levels, aiding in establishing scientific standards, and promoting liaisons with other organizations that influence the care and cure of neurotrauma victims.
The enthusiasm for the Society has been overwhelming, says Byrnes. “I’m really excited that so many people were eager to get involved,” she shared. A planning committee that was involved in the MTBI2’s sponsored meetings a couple of years ago were asked if they would stay on. Each one, about 10 investigators from seven different research institutes, said yes. “They said 100% I’m on board. It’s encouraging,” Byrnes adds.
Byrnes says it’s essential to continue local collaborations. “We’ve already seen a lot of multi-institutional collaborations happening that have resulted in National Institute of Health (NIH) or Congressionally Directed Medical Research (CDMRP) funded grants,” she says. “Some of this work could lead to clinical trials. I think it’s essential we keep talking to each other and keep building these networks in order to bring neurotrauma care to patients,” Byrnes added.
Membership in the organization is open to anyone interested in conducting neurotrauma research. The first NCANS meeting will occur February 24, 2025, at the NIH. Interested participants can register at https://burns-lab.facultysite.georgetown.edu/ncans.
