Community-Informed Brain Injury Research at the TBICC
The TBICC has a reputation for advancing translational, clinically meaningful research. Through Department of Defense (DOD)-funded initiatives and collaborative grants, TBICC researchers are studying novel treatments, imaging techniques, and long-term recovery patterns in TBI.
Yet Dr. Esopenko is quick to point out an essential truth: many TBICC team members are not veterans.
“Our team works with veterans, but I’m not a veteran,” she explained. “I have not served in the military. I’m so far removed, right?”
While clinicians can measure symptoms and analyze data, lived experience offers something critical: context.
“Providing the space to actually sit there and talk to veterans and say, ‘OK, are we getting at what we need to be getting at?’ And they’re saying, ‘Not completely. You didn’t think of this or this,'” she said, noting the value of their perspectives.
She emphasized that feedback from veterans and first responders shapes everything, from designing studies to communicating results.
“When we’re writing things up to give it back to the audience… we bring it to them [veterans] first,” Esopenko explained. “And they tell us, ‘No, you can’t say it like that. It would be better if you presented the information in a way that speaks to our experiences.'”
Through 22 Jumps, the TBICC works closely with veterans who serve as advisors and consultants. This ensures research questions reflect real-world needs and that recruitment materials resonate authentically.
Why Action Sports Matter for Brain Health
At first glance, tandem BASE jumping or slacklining across a canyon may seem disconnected from neuroscience research. But the philosophy behind 22 Jumps’ retreats is deeply aligned with mental health recovery.
“It sounds like they’re just making people do extreme things,” Esopenko said. “But the actual idea behind it is pretty profound.”
Many veterans return home with TBI and PTSD, often accompanied by fear, anxiety, and difficulty reconnecting with family life.
“Getting them to do this gets them to face a fear and then realize they can face their fears,” she said. “How profound is that?”
Participants spend nearly a week together, building trust and community. They engage in breathwork, guided conversations, and challenging activities designed to restore confidence and agency.
“These guys are going through a week of building up to get through things that are extremely scary,” Esopenko said. “But as they’re doing it, they’re also contemplating life and realizing, ‘I really can get through this.'”
For researchers at the TBICC, this presents both inspiration and opportunity.