Optimizing brain oxygen after severe traumatic brain injury (BOOST-3)
Brain Oxygen Optimization in Severe Traumatic Brain Injury - Phase 3 (BOOST-3)
This project uses a small brain oxygen sensor to guide ICU treatments for people with severe traumatic brain injury to prevent low brain oxygen and improve recovery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11296974 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I or a loved one has a severe traumatic brain injury and is in a prolonged coma, doctors would place a small sensor that measures oxygen inside brain tissue (PbtO2) while cared for in the ICU. Patients are randomly assigned to have clinical decisions guided by the brain-oxygen readings using a prescribed treatment protocol or to standard care focused on intracranial pressure. The team will track how often brain oxygen drops occur, apply interventions to reverse low oxygen when guided by the sensor, and follow patients' functional recovery over time. This Phase 3 project builds on an earlier BOOST trial that greatly reduced brain hypoxia and now aims to see if that approach improves long-term outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with severe traumatic brain injury in the ICU who can have an invasive brain oxygen monitor placed early after injury.
Not a fit: People with mild or moderate head injuries, those not requiring invasive ICU monitoring, or patients treated at hospitals not participating in the trial are unlikely to be eligible or benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could reduce secondary brain injury from low oxygen and increase the chance of meaningful recovery after severe TBI.
How similar studies have performed: A prior BOOST Phase 2 trial reduced the burden of brain hypoxia by about 74% and showed a trend toward improved outcomes, supporting this larger Phase 3 test.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silbergleit, Robert — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Silbergleit, Robert
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.