Giving Compass' Take:

• Shuhan He discusses the consequences and challenges of traumatic brain injuries, which need additional research to be understood and treated. 

• How can funders help to build upon the existing body of research in this field? 

• Learn how to find and fund scientific research. 

Traumatic Brain Injury, also known as TBI, is often similar to other injuries with the main difference that TBI has severe lifelong consequences for the individual and it can be triggered by any unfortunate event such as a car accident, a sports accident or during any other situation where a strong blow to the head is delivered.

People with a TBI can experience symptoms such as headaches, nausea and vomiting. But after those initial manifestations, a string of events will begin to unfold leading to further damage; this succeeding stage is usually called the secondary injury. Cells that have been injured by the initial impact begin to release toxic substances that can harm other surrounding cells. This is why it is important to seek medical assistance as soon as possible, since although this collateral damage may take a few weeks to develop, it can occur within minutes of an injury being sustained, if an accident is sufficiently severe.

Part of the problem is that the brain is not good at repairing itself, so the consequences of traumatic brain injury are often long-lasting or even permanent.

Some of the long-term issues related to this injury include psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, physical problems, and other, more subtle cognitive changes.

Read more about traumatic brain injury by Shuhan He at The Naked Scientists.