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NIH grant 1I21RD001011-01: Development a pig biofidelic instrumented head-form (pBIHF) to test the effects of occupational blast exposure (OBE) on brain injury
Institute: {'code': 'VA', 'abbreviation': 'VA', 'name': 'Veterans Affairs', 'admin_org_id': '12500964', 'admin_funding_url': ''}. PI: CANDACE L. FLOYD. Award: $.
Start: 2026-10-01T00:00:00.
Project Summary/Abstract
Significance to VA: The topic of the proposed research is occupational blast exposure (OBE) and effects on
brain health. The purpose of this work is to develop a pig biofidelic instrumented head-form (pBIHF) which will
be used to scale research and results between pig and human to improve the validity of the preclinical models.
The pBIHF will enable us and other teams to assess the extent to which the blast exposures used in OBE
preclinical experiments really measure what Veterans experienced with OBE. Moreover, the pBIHF will
improve the predictive validity for subsequent preclinical evaluations of strategies to mitigate, manage, and
treat brain impairments from OBE experienced by Veterans.
Innovation and Impact: Our use of our highly instrumented BIHFs for human and pig as tools for direct,
empirical cross-species scaling of OBE has not been previously described. Thus, this research is innovative
in both the technology and the approach. Validation of a pig model of OBE that is empirically scaled to human
exposure will have significant impact on our field as this model will enable us to directly assess the effects of
OBE on brain health. The impact of this work is that the pBIHF can be widely shared with the research
community to accelerate the pace and improve the success of developing treatments for OBE, thereby
improving the lives of Veterans and their caregivers.
Specific Aims: Aim 1 is to quantify the effects of OBE within a pig biofidelic instrumented head form (pBIHF)
and compare measurements within a human biofidelic instrumented head form (hBIHF). Aim 2 is to determine
the effects of pBIHF/hBIHF scaled free-field OBE on acute indicators of brain injury by assessing eye, optic
nerve, serum, CSF, and brain tissue biomarker expression.
Methodology: We will use magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) imaging to
obtain detailed measurements of adult pig heads and brains (n=4). We will then construct a pig BIHF. We will
use our human and pig BIHFs to improve scaling of our free-field OBE model. Using scaled exposure data, we
will then expose live, adult male pigs to our free-field OBE exposure (scaled) and assess acute indicators of
mild brain injury for model validation. Acute indicators of brain injury are those that have been well validated in
both human and animal studies of mild traumatic brain injury.
Path to Translation/Implementation: Upon the conclusion of this study, we will have developed a pig BFIH
and associated data to validate and empirically-scale a porcine model of OBE exposure such that exposure
profiles in pig mimic that of human in a free-field exposure setting. For implementation, there will be four main
areas of focus. First, we will use the free-field exposure OBE model to further test the effects of OBE on brain
health including effects on key cognitive outcomes including memory, emotional control, sleep. Secondly, we
will use the OBE model to assess potential cumulative and chronic effects of OBE that may affect Veterans as
well as novel treatment strategies to mitigate or repair effects of OBE on brain health. Thirdly, the validated
free-field exposure OBE model will be used to subsequently test protection and mitigation strategies including
PPE to prevent OBE-induced brain injury. Fourthly, the pig and human BIHFs will be used in other OBE
exposure settings (e.g., breacher house, DAP helicopter, etc.) to improve knowledge and scaling of variable
exposure profiles. We will communicate all aspects (protocols, data, analysis) of this experimentation using
FAIR data standards according to VA data sharing guidelines. We anticipate that these tools will be used by us
and other in the field to improve the scaling of animal models of OBE which will ultimately lead to better
understanding, prevention, mitigation and treatment of OBE effects on brain health. Improved brain health
improves the lives of Veterans and their care givers, across the lifespan.document fetched 2026-10-24 02:46