A team of researchers from the University of Utah and the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System has been honored with the 2024 Article of the Year award from the journal Military Medicine, a distinction that recognizes exceptional scholarship and meaningful impact in military and federal health care.
The award-winning study, “Persistent MRI Findings Unique to Blast and Repetitive Mild TBI,” was led by David Tate, PhD, and Elisabeth Wilde, PhD, from the Department of Neurology. Their work reflects a powerful collaboration between academic medicine and federal research programs, united by a shared commitment to improving the lives of Veterans and service members.
At the heart of the study is a critical question: how does traumatic brain injury—particularly from blast exposure and repeated mild injuries—affect the brain over time? Using advanced MRI techniques, the researchers identified persistent changes in brain structure that offer new insight into the long-term effects of these injuries. Their findings underscore both the complexity of traumatic brain injury and the ongoing challenge of identifying reliable biomarkers, while reinforcing the need for continued, focused research in this area.
For many post-9/11 Veterans, traumatic brain injury remains one of the most pressing and difficult-to-diagnose conditions. This work contributes to a growing effort to better understand these injuries, with the ultimate goal of improving diagnosis, guiding treatment, and shaping long-term care.
The Article of the Year recognition from Military Medicine highlights not only the study’s scientific rigor but also its relevance to real-world clinical practice in military and federal health systems. It affirms the importance of research that bridges discovery and application—work that can directly influence how care is delivered to those who have served.
As part of the honor, the authors will be recognized with a commemorative plaque and will share their insights in an upcoming interview on the WarDocs podcast, where they will discuss the broader implications of their findings for Veteran health.
This achievement also speaks to the strength of the partnership between the University of Utah and the VA. By bringing together expertise across disciplines and institutions, researchers can tackle complex health challenges with greater depth and perspective. The result is research that not only advances scientific understanding but also holds tangible promise for improving outcomes for service members and Veterans.