Examining Traumatic Brain Injury as a Chronic Condition: Proceedings of a Workshop (2026)
Chapter: Appendix A: Statement of Task
Appendix A
Statement of Task
A planning committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine will organize a public workshop that brings together researchers, neuroscientists, medical professionals (including rehabilitation experts), brain injury experts, persons living with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and caregivers, state and federal partners, and other key interested parties to discuss the evidence base for designating TBI as a chronic condition. The workshop will also address the current science and strategies to improve the care and outcomes of individuals living with chronic or long-term effects of TBI.
Invited presentations and discussions may be designed to:
- Explore the current evidence on characterizing TBI as a chronic condition and the management of chronic or long-term TBI symptoms and disabilities.
- Describe current research on the incidence and prevalence of experiencing chronic or long-term symptoms and disabilities after TBI.
- Examine risk and protective factors related to experiencing chronic or long-term symptoms and disabilities due to a TBI, as well as the risk for co-occurring health conditions.
- Assess the challenges and opportunities regarding characterizing TBI as a chronic condition.
- Discuss available data systems and potential strategies to capture robust data to improve research on care and outcomes for
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- individuals living with chronic or long-term TBI symptoms and disabilities.
- Discuss evidence-based strategies and interventions to improve the care and outcomes for individuals living with chronic or long-term TBI symptoms and disabilities and how their needs may change across the life span.
- Discuss needs and information gaps surrounding clinical care practice guidelines for health care professionals.
- Investigate the challenges and opportunities regarding the use of the Chronic Care Model for TBI management.
- Examine existing services available for individuals who experience chronic or long-term TBI symptoms and disabilities and examine the challenges and opportunities regarding improving access to and coverage for TBI-specific rehabilitative services and specialized follow-up care.
- Examine examples of current and model state and local systems of care to support individuals living with TBI.
- Share perspectives of people and families with lived experience.
- Discuss how to better incorporate family and caregiver needs into TBI care and management.
The planning committee will develop the agenda, select and invite speakers and discussants, and moderate or identify moderators for the discussions. Proceedings of the presentations and discussions at the workshop will be prepared by a designated rapporteur in accordance with institutional guidelines.
