Traumatic brain injury can lead to long-lasting difficulties in a person’s ability to think, learn, and remember. At Kessler Foundation, we’re pioneering innovative treatments that target these challenges, helping individuals regain cognitive function and reclaim their independence.
Traumatic brain injury can significantly impair walking and motor function. At Kessler Foundation, we are leading research and rehabilitation efforts to tackle these challenges. By exploring robotic gait and balance therapies, virtual reality, and cognitive-integrated movement training, we aim to improve walking, balance, and independence in daily life.
Kessler Foundation researcher Karen J. Nolan, PhD, is pioneering the use of robotic exoskeletons to restore walking and motor function after TBI. These cutting-edge devices help improve quality of life and restore independence.
Researchers developed KF-mSMT®, a drug-free, computer-based protocol that uses context and imagery to improve memory in TBI. Studies show significant gains. Created by Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, KF-mSMT is available in English and Spanish.
Kessler Foundation researcher Kiran Karunakaran, PhD, investigates advanced treadmills equipped with augmented reality to combine cognitive and motor training. This innovative approach enhances walking and balance for people recovering from TBI.
TBI is a leading cause of long-term disability and caregiver stress. Kessler Foundation researcher Denise Krch, PhD, is testing a group-based wellness program that teaches coping and self-management skills to both TBI survivors and their caregivers.
Individuals with TBI often report a lack of mental energy, called cognitive fatigue, that interferes with their ability to perform daily activities. Researcher Glenn Wylie, DPhil, and team use neuroimaging to learn about the underlying mechanisms of cognitive fatigue in TBI.
Inspired by the KF-mSMT protocol, Aubree Alexander, PhD, created a companion intervention called KF-PUPIL, Play, Understand, Partner, Interact, and Learn, for use at home. KF-PUPIL features an educational component for family caregivers and a tabletop game designed to promote the use of cognitive strategies.
The Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System, led by Nancy Chiaravalloti, PhD, helps individuals and families adjust to life after TBI. Its research and clinical care provide insights, data, and answers that improve outcomes.
Our Scientists Studying Traumatic Brain Injury
Applying Exercise to Improve Memory in Traumatic Brain Injury
This study compares the effects of two, 12-week exercise programs (aerobic cycling or stretching-and-toning) combined with memory retraining on cognitive (thinking) performance in people with traumatic brain injury.
Our Specialized Centers Committed to TBI
Advance Recovery After TBI
Your gift powers research that helps people with traumatic brain injury relearn to walk, think, and connect. Support breakthroughs that restore function and rebuild lives.
Bill Pastras, Why Research Matters to Me After My Stroke and TBI
In 2017, my life changed in an instant. While driving on the New Jersey Turnpike, I suddenly felt weak and lost control of my car...
Angela Pennella, It's Never Too Late to Learn After TBI
Angela Pennella was on her way home when a driver crossed into her lane and struck her car head-on. She sustained extensive injuries, including a traumatic brain injury...
Norman Lim, Tapping Into Napping After TBI
“Participating in research has given me a new purpose in life,” says Norman Lim, who sustained a TBI a decade ago...
Read or listen to Brainwaves, the traumatic brain injury research newsletter from Kessler Foundation and the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System. Here you will find insight, information, and resources to help individuals living with brain injury, their families, and caregivers.
Our scientists have collected essential facts and resources to assist individuals with traumatic brain injury and their caregivers, helping them to live well with the condition.
Our TBI Scientists in Action
