University of Utah and NYU researchers have received a major Department of Defense grant to study an innovative light-based therapy that could transform treatment for traumatic brain injury symptoms. The large-scale clinical trial offers new, drug-free hope for service members, veterans, and first responders living with the long-term effects of mTBI.
University of Utah Researchers Awarded Major Department of Defense Grant to Study Light Therapy Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury
A team of researchers from the Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center (TBICC) within the Department of Neurology at the University of Utah and New York University have been awarded a substantial grant from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to investigate a promising new treatment approach for service members, veterans, and first responders suffering from persistent symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Elisabeth Wilde, PhD, and Carrie Esopenko, PhD, will lead a large-scale clinical trial combining photobiomodulation (PBM) light therapy with computerized cognitive rehabilitation—potentially offering new hope to thousands struggling with the long-term effects of brain injuries.
Understanding Photobiomodulation: Wavelengths, Treatment Protocol, and Medical Applications
The technology for this study involves a specialized headset with LED lights that project near-infrared light at specific wavelengths, plus a nasal clip that delivers light into the nasal cavity. Patients simply place the device on their head for approximately 25 minutes a day. Initially the recommendation was to complete the intervention three–five times per week, with updated recommendations for five–six days per week.
But this isn't just any red-light device. "There's been a lot of science and engineering that's gone into this to figure out the specific wavelengths of light that need to be used," Esopenko emphasized. "We're not telling people to go to a department store and get this device and it's going to make your brain all better. It's really specific to the type of light that's being projected."
The light's photons interact with cytochrome c oxidase in cells, releasing nitric oxide that improves circulation and reduces inflammation. The treatment also influences ATP production and utilization. Experimental studies have shown the therapy can promote angiogenesis—creation of new blood vessels—and neurogenesis—generation of new neural tissue.
PBM light therapy has been used successfully in other medical applications for years. The military employs it for wound healing, dentists use it regularly, and it is FDA-approved for treating mouth sores in chemotherapy patients.
PBM remains experimental for neurological conditions, and questions about its indirect effects and the ability of light to penetrate the skull persist. Wilde and Esopenko seek to address these and other issues in their DOD-funded mTBI–PBM study.
Traumatic Brain Injury in Military Personnel and First Responders
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become one of the signature injuries affecting military personnel and first responders. Whether from blast exposure in combat zones, repeated impacts in training, or injuries sustained in the line of duty, many live with persistent symptoms long after their initial injuries, including cognitive impairments, mood disturbances, anxiety, and depression.
DOD records show that 518,116 TBIs were sustained by military personnel between the years 2000–2025. Of those, almost 82 percent were mild, and initial recovery from a mild TBI is relatively quick, often just 10–14 days ("DOD TBI Worldwide Numbers").
However, negative residual effects can last for years, even with ‘mild’ TBI, impacting many aspects of a patient’s life. Hoping to improve outcomes for those with lingering mTBI symptoms, Esopenko and Wilde will recruit 300 participants from across the United States for their multi-arm, randomized, controlled trial, making it one of the most rigorous and comprehensive studies of its kind.
Their grant, titled “Shining Light on Trauma: Treatment of Chronic TBI to Improve Psychological Health Using Photobiomodulation in Service Members, Veterans, and First Responders,” will fund research for four years, September 2025 through August 2029.
The contract amount of $4,613,247.00 has been funded through the Department of Defense’s Office of the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP) Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program (TBIPHRP).
Early Indicated Potential Benefits of Treating TBI with Photobiomodulation
The journey to this groundbreaking research began seven years ago, marked by initial skepticism that evolved into compelling evidence. "When Lisa and I first started, we thought this was snake oil. We're thinking, who's going to shine light on someone's head and they're going to get better?" Esopenko candidly shared. "But then we actually started doing it … and started seeing the actual changes."
Dr. Wilde, in collaboration with another faculty member in the Department of Neurology, Dr. David Tate, completed the team’s first study involving PBM in firefighters in Las Vegas. From there, the TBICC team followed up with studies of former athletes, veterans, women who experienced intimate partner violence, and current collegiate athletes. Throughout these studies, the team observed remarkable improvements in functional outcomes and brain structure.
"We see very consistent improvement in things related to mood and anxiety," Wilde noted. Their initial firefighter study documented a 35% decrease in depression symptoms and 40% decrease in PTSD or anxiety symptoms. Cognitive improvements were equally impressive. "We see changes across the board in attention, working memory, executive functioning, processing speed," Wilde explained.
Research also revealed improvements extending beyond initial hypotheses. Firefighters reported significant improvements in mood regulation, reaction to irritation, and sustained attention.
Physical performance improvements were equally striking. Athletes reported better performance and well-being without changing their training routines. Professional sports teams now use these devices for performance enhancement and workout recovery. "The physical performance actually has great relevance for military and first responders, because these are all professions where you want somebody who has excellent reaction time, who can make decisions on their feet, but also somebody who's physically in good shape," Wilde said.
Taken together, these results pointed to possible use of PBM as a treatment for traumatic brain injury. More studies were needed, so Wilde and Esopenko applied for the DOD grant.
Clinical Trial Design
The newly funded study combines scientific rigor with practical application. Esopenko explains, “For the randomized controlled trial, 1/3 of participants are assigned to a PBM group, 1/3 are assigned to a PBM+CCR [computerized cognitive rehabilitation] group, and 1/3 are assigned to a Sham PBM group (i.e., no active light is produced from the headset).
“Participants will also be in two conditions: 1) an in-person condition for those living in and around Salt Lake City, and 2) a remote condition for those living across the United States. Everyone will take an initial assessment, go through a 10-week program, complete another assessment right after it ends, and then take a final survey three months later.”
In this innovative dual approach, half the participants receive in-person treatment, with brain MRI scans documenting structural and functional changes, while the other half participate remotely. "This is a treatment delivery device that is incredibly low risk and very well tolerated," Wilde explained. "It lends itself well to being … deployed in remote or austere environments."
The study also includes a community advisory board of 10–15 individuals with lived experience of mTBI, their advocates, and community partners. This board will be involved in all research aspects, ensuring the study remains grounded in real-world needs.
The Future of Drug-Free TBI Treatment and Recovery
If successful, this research could establish one of the first drug-free interventions proven to reduce persistent symptoms and restore brain health in adults with mTBI. Perhaps most significantly, the treatment has few known side effects.
Esopenko and Wilde envision developing a dedicated center to advance this therapy and make it more broadly available. "Our big goal is to develop a Center that works on this," Dr. Esopenko explained. "We are actively trying to get funding to be able to offer this more broadly and be able to study other populations."
For thousands of service members, veterans, and first responders living with persistent TBI symptoms—often struggling for months or years after their injuries—this research offers hope grounded in solid science, delivered through an accessible, safe, and effective treatment approach.
"I hope that for many of our folks that are suffering with persistent chronic symptoms … that this will be the hope for them moving forward, and that we might be able to reduce those symptoms and provide a quality of life that they may have been missing up until now," Esopenko explained.