Indiana University is a national leader in addressing trauma, both physical and psychological.
Research on trauma
Research areas
Post-traumatic stress disorder and pain
A cutting-edge blood test discovered by Indiana University School of Medicine researchers, led by Professor of Psychiatry Alexander Niculescu, could help more accurately diagnose military veterans and other people experiencing post- traumatic stress disorder, and potentially provide more precise treatments and prevention. Niculescu and his team also have developed a prototype blood test that can objectively tell doctors if a patient is in pain and how severe the pain is. Until now, there was no objective measure for pain. This test will allow for more personalized treatment and better prescribing of pain medication.
Traumatic stress interventions
Indiana University's Kinsey Institute Traumatic Stress Research Consortium is pioneering collaborative research with clinicians on the long-term changes to physiology, physical health, and emotional wellbeing that occur in the aftermath of trauma.
Traumatic brain injury
The Indiana University School of Medicine is a leader in the research, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of traumatic brain injuries and mild traumatic brain injuries, also known as concussions. Faculty investigators at IU School of Medicine and partnering organizations utilize innovative approaches to better understand the causes of concussions, in addition to interventions, to improve the overall treatment and recovery of individuals with TBI.
Military medicine
As part of the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering, researchers in the Military Medicine program focus on developing patient-specific interventions that help patients sustaining musculoskeletal injury, specifically injuries that result in acute and chronic musculoskeletal disease. Treatment goals include acute interventions, regenerative interventions for both bone and muscle, and eventually identifying the optimal means of rehabilitation for the patient to resume a normal lifestyle. The primary goal is for military personnel to be able to lead normal, productive lives and perform activities of daily living comparable to the non-injured, but an important secondary goal is the potential to return to active duty status and continue military service.
Wound healing and repair
At the Indiana Center for Regenerative Medicine and Engineering, research efforts are focused on targeting molecular pathways to retard biofilm infections, studying the significance and mechanisms of resolution of inflammation in tissue repair and regeneration, and providing wound-healing expertise and wound care to patients with diabetic foot ulcers.
Faculty
Flora Hammond
hammondf@iupui.edu
Chair, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Brain injury, stroke, and spinal cord injury, and effectiveness of treatments
Keisuke Kawata
kkawata@indiana.edu
Associate Professor in Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health Traumatic brain injury diagnosis and rehabilitation, single vs. repetitive concussive blows
Thomas W. McAllister
twmcalli@iupui.edu
Chair, Department of Psychiatry
Traumatic brain injury, cognitive and behavioral difficulties, biomechanical basis of concussion, repetitive head impacts on brain structure and function
Todd O. McKinley
tomckinl@iupui.edu
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Polytrauma precision medicine, cartilage injury
Brian H. Mullis
bmullis@iupui.edu
Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
Acute upper and lower extremity trauma and post-traumatic reconstruction
Alexander B. Niculescu
anicules@iupui.edu
Professor of Psychiatry
Blood tests, genomics, and phenomics for neuropsychiatric disorders, apps for mental health
Stephen W. Porges
sporges@indiana.edu
Distinguished University Scientist
Autonomic nervous systemand behaviors by trauma-affected individuals
Sashwati Roy
roysa@iu.edu
Visiting Professor of Surgery
Wound inflammation, mechanisms of diabetic wound infection, tissue repair, and cellular plasticity
Chandan K. Sen
cksen@iu.edu
Associate Vice President of Research
Tissue injury and repair in stroke, post-infarction myocardial remodeling, and cutaneous wound healing
Fletcher A. White
fawhite@iu.edu
Vergil K. Stoelting Professor of Anesthesia
Tissue-derived factors and neuropathic pain syndromes after traumatic brain injury
Ben Zarzaur
bzarzaur@iupui.edu
Adjunct Professor of Surgery; Trauma Medical Director at Eskenazi Health
Long-term outcomes of older injured patients, blunt spleen injury