NCT06992570

Risk Assessment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in Military Training

Identification and Risk Assessment of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI) in Czech Armed Forces Soldiers During Specific Training Activities

• Status: Enrolling By Invitation
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 50 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Charles University, Czech Republic · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 50 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The SNIPER-TBI study aims to identify and quantify the risk of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in soldiers of the Czech Armed Forces during specific high-risk training activities, including parachute jumps, high-caliber firearms shooting, artillery blasts, and Close Quarters Battle (CQB) exercises. The study will utilize both diagnostic biomarker analysis and experimental biomechanical measurements to assess the physiological impact of these activities on brain health. The ultimate goal is to reduce mTBI incidence, improve operational readiness, and extend the active service duration of soldiers through targeted preventive measures.

Detailed description

The SNIPER-TBI study aims to quantify the risk of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) in Czech Armed Forces soldiers during high-risk training activities, including parachute jumps, high-caliber firearms shooting, artillery blasts, and Close Quarters Battle (CQB) exercises. The study combines diagnostic biomarker analysis (GFAP, UCH-L1) and experimental biomechanical measurements using wearable sensors and high-speed cameras. These data will provide critical insights into the forces exerted on the brain during training and help establish exposure limits to minimize long-term neurological impairment. The results will guide the development of protective strategies and enhance soldier readiness.

Conditions

• Trauma, Brain

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Quantification of mild trauma brain injury risk	Measure the incidence and severity of mTBI among soldiers engaged in high-risk training activities. (e.g. parachute jumps, high-caliber firearms shooting, artillery fire, explosions). Concentration of brain injury biomarkers (GFAP, UCH-L1) in blood samples collected within 24 hours post-exposure
OTHER	Biomechanical Analysis of Head Impact Forces	Evaluate the mechanical forces experienced by soldiers during high-risk activities using wearable accelerometers and high-speed video analysis. Peak head acceleration (g-force) and pressure wave analysis during training activities.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-11-04
• Primary completion: 2026-06-30
• Completion: 2026-09-30
• First posted: 2025-05-28
• Last updated: 2025-11-19

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Czechia