NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Cognitive control, emotion, and suicide risk after traumatic brain injury in Veterans

Official title: BCCMA: Cognitive phenotypes of emotion regulation and suicide risk in Veterans with TBI

Funded at VA New Jersey Health Care System · NIH-11338054 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A study will look at how traumatic brain injury affects thinking, emotions, and suicide risk in Veterans, using data from both people and animal models.

More Suicide research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVA New Jersey Health Care System
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (East Orange, United States)
Project startMay 1, 2025
Project endApril 30, 2029
Funding year2026
NIH project number5I01BX006872-02
Project IDNIH-11338054 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury and individuals with a history of suicidality or without TBI who are part of the study cohorts.

Less likely to help

Individuals without TBI or psychiatric risk factors may not directly benefit from the findings.

What this research studies

This project brings together human and animal data to understand why TBI can disrupt thinking and emotional regulation, which may raise suicide risk. Researchers will analyze behavioral tasks, blood inflammation markers, and brain integrity, using advanced computational models to capture hidden cognitive processes. By comparing patterns in Veterans with and without TBI or suicidality and in animals before and after injury, the study aims to identify consistent mechanisms across species that could be targets for intervention.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide new strategies to reduce suicide risk by targeting cognitive and emotional regulation after TBI.

How similar studies have gone: Prior translational work combining human and animal data with computational modeling has shown promise in understanding cognitive control after brain injury.

Where this research is happening

  • VA New Jersey Health Care System
    East Orange, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Myers, Catherine E — VA New Jersey Health Care System
  • Study coordinator: Myers, Catherine E

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Helping mothers build emotion skills to protect their children from suicide risk

    This project teaches DBT emotion-regulation skills to mothers with past suicidal behavior to help their children (about 9–14 years old) better handle emotions and lower suicide risk.

    NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11242084

  • Understanding how brain injuries affect emotions and suicide risk in veterans

    This study is looking at how traumatic brain injuries can affect thinking and emotions in veterans, which might make them more likely to think about suicide, and it aims to better understand these issues by using both animal studies and human data.

    NIH research VA New Jersey Health Care System · East Orange, United States · NIH-11186607

  • Exploring how mothers' emotional skills affect their children's suicide risk

    This study is looking at how a mother's ability to manage her emotions can affect her child's risk of having suicidal thoughts, especially if the mother has struggled with suicidal behavior herself, and it aims to help mothers learn new skills to support their children's emotional health.

    NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-10997353

  • Understanding Invisible Suicide Risks in Youth: A National Study in Guyana

    A nationwide study in Guyana aims to learn about hidden factors that contribute to suicide risk among young people so we can prevent tragedy.

    NIH research New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · New York, United States · NIH-11617664

  • Mobile safety planning for at-risk young adults

    A digital, text-based safety planning program for young adults (ages 18–24) to help prevent suicide and stay connected to support.

    NIH research Northwestern University · Chicago, United States · NIH-11606617

  • Reducing firearm suicide among Veterans with peer-delivered counseling

    A VA-funded project tests whether peer-delivered counseling helps Veterans store firearms more securely and reduces suicide risk.

    NIH research Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care · New Orleans, United States · NIH-11591787

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.