Brain oxygen monitoring to help recovery after severe head injury

Brain Oxygen Optimization in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury - Phase 3 (BOOST-3)

['FUNDING_U01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · NIH-11471593

This project uses a brain oxygen sensor to guide ICU care for people with severe traumatic brain injury.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR (nih funded)
Locations1 site (ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11471593 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If I have a severe head injury and am in a coma in the ICU, doctors would place a small sensor in my brain to measure how much oxygen the tissue is getting. The care team would use those oxygen readings, along with standard pressure monitoring, to treat problems that could lower brain oxygen. Patients are randomly assigned to usual pressure-guided care or to care guided by the brain oxygen numbers so researchers can compare recovery. Earlier work showed fewer low-oxygen episodes with this approach, and this larger trial aims to see if that leads to better long-term outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with severe traumatic brain injury admitted to the ICU who require intracranial monitoring (prolonged coma) are the intended candidates.

Not a fit: People with mild head injuries, those not requiring ICU intracranial monitoring, or those for whom invasive monitoring is unsafe are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce episodes of low brain oxygen and improve survival and long-term function after severe TBI.

How similar studies have performed: A prior randomized Phase 2 trial reduced brain hypoxia by about 74% and showed a trend toward improved functional outcomes, so the approach has promising early evidence but needs Phase 3 confirmation.

Where this research is happening

ANN ARBOR, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Acquired brain injury

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.