Refer A Participant

ABOUT ENROLLMENT

For years, the standard response to persistent mild traumatic brain injury symptoms has been the same: manage the headaches, address the mood, learn to cope with the fog. For the veterans, operators, and athletes who have lived that reality — who have cycled through appointments, medications, and therapies without ever finding lasting relief — this study represents something different. Not symptom management. Root cause investigation. And for the first time, a clinical pathway built around finding where these symptoms actually come from.

Whether you are a veteran or athlete ready to refer yourself, a family member or friend who knows someone who needs answers, or a clinician with a patient who may qualify — the form at the bottom of this page is where it starts. One form. Every pathway.

Are You Living With These Symptoms?

The following symptoms are among the most common persistent post-concussive presentations seen in the populations this study is designed to serve. If you or someone you know has been experiencing any combination of these — particularly without clear resolution through prior treatment — this study may be exactly what has been missing.

Headaches that have persisted for months or years following a head injury, blast exposure, or a career of repetitive impacts. Chronic dizziness, vertigo, or balance problems that affect daily function. Brain fog — the persistent sense that thinking is slower, less clear, or more effortful than it used to be. Sleep disruption that does not respond to standard interventions. Emotional dysregulation, irritability, or anxiety that feels physical rather than purely psychological. Sensitivity to light, noise, or motion. Visual disturbances or difficulty stabilizing gaze. A sense of pressure or fullness in the head. Cognitive difficulties including memory problems, word-finding challenges, or processing speed changes. Symptoms that mirror PTSD but have not fully responded to PTSD-specific treatment.

If this list describes your experience — or the experience of someone you care about — we want to hear from you.

Who This Study Is Looking For

This study is enrolling participants across three populations. Preliminary eligibility requirements are outlined below. If you are unsure whether you or someone you know qualifies, reach out anyway. The screening conversation costs nothing and may open a door that has been closed for a long time.



Military Veterans with a formally diagnosed mild traumatic brain injury and persistent post-concussive symptoms that have not fully resolved. The qualifying injury or exposure must have occurred at least six months prior to enrollment. Any era of service. Any branch.

Special Operations Forces Operators — active or former — with a formal mTBI diagnosis and a history of blast exposure, breaching operations, parachute opening shock, combatives training, or direct head impact. The qualifying event must have occurred at least six months prior to enrollment, and ongoing neurological or autonomic symptoms must be present.

Current or Former NFL Athletes with a formally diagnosed mild traumatic brain injury sustained during their playing career, with the qualifying event occurring at least six months prior to enrollment and persistent symptoms that continue to affect their quality of life or daily function.

All participants must meet the following baseline requirements:

A formal mTBI diagnosis from a licensed healthcare provider. A qualifying injury or exposure that occurred no less than six months before enrollment. Persistent symptoms that have not fully resolved despite prior evaluation or treatment. Willingness and ability to commit to a six-month study protocol. Ability to access care in the Tampa Bay, Florida region for the duration of the study period.

What Participation Involves

Enrolled participants receive the following at no cost:

• Diagnostic Imaging — Tampa Bay & Hollywood, FL At the start of the study, every participant travels to Amen Clinics in Hollywood, Florida for SPECT brain imaging — the most advanced functional brain imaging available for mTBI evaluation. All other diagnostic imaging, including MRI with specialized craniocervical junction views, Diffusion Tensor Imaging, Susceptibility Weighted Imaging, quantitative EEG, and Cone Beam CT, is conducted in the Tampa Bay area. At the six-month mark, participants return to Amen Clinics in Hollywood for final SPECT imaging. These are the only two travel requirements outside of the Tampa Bay area for the entire study. Travel support is available for participants who need assistance with transportation or accommodations for either visit.
• Clinical Commitment — What to Expect This study requires a genuine six-month commitment. The first three months represent the most intensive period of clinical engagement — participants will be seen regularly for their assigned treatment protocol and will complete assessment visits at thirty and ninety days. The final three months are less intensive clinically, culminating in the six-month final assessment. Participants who are not able to commit to the full six-month protocol are not eligible for enrollment. This is not a casual participation opportunity — it is a clinical study that requires consistency, follow-through, and engagement. The participants who will benefit most are those who are ready to commit fully to finding a real answer.
• Treatment Assignment to one of three treatment arms — brain-focused intervention, structure-focused intervention, or combined — based on random assignment following enrollment. All treatment is provided at no cost to the participant throughout the full six-month study period.
• Assessment Full neurological, vestibular, autonomic, and cognitive assessment at baseline, thirty days, ninety days, and six months. Every assessment is conducted in the Tampa Bay area with the exception of the two SPECT imaging visits to Hollywood.

Beyond the direct benefit of comprehensive evaluation and cutting-edge treatment, participants contribute to research that will change the standard of care for every veteran, operator, and athlete who comes after them. That contribution is not a small thing. It is the reason this study exists.

For Clinicians

If you are a healthcare provider who works with veterans, military personnel, or professional athletes and has patients who may qualify, we welcome clinical referrals and are happy to discuss the study protocol, eligibility criteria, and clinical coordination directly. Use the same form below and select Clinician as your role.