New research targets cognitive recovery after brain injury

David Devilbiss, Ph.D., is leading research on traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion, driven by a deeply personal experience. When his son was just one year old, he suffered a head injury. At that time, the general protocol for suspected concussion was to "rest, watch, and wait," a torturous prescription for any parent caring for their child’s wellbeing.

“At the time, they weren’t even sure how to detect whether something had gone wrong in his brain,” said Devilbiss, an assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology & Neuroscience at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. “In that moment, I decided this is what I need to do with the rest of my life; to help individuals after they’ve had a fall or an accident when they don’t know when or if their brain will be all right. That's really what has driven this research over the last five-plus years.”

Since joining Rowan University in 2017, Devilbiss has focused on the neurobiology of TBI, aiming to develop diagnostics and treatments to reduce cognitive impairments caused by brain injuries.

His research includes exploring the potential use of small molecule compounds that can enhance neurotrophic systems as treatments for TBI and other brain injuries. Devilbiss says these compounds have shown promising results in early-phase clinical trials in Alzheimer’s disease.

“Interestingly, these compounds don't do much in a healthy young adult brain,” Devilbiss explained. “But if you have mild cognitive impairment, or Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, or if you have a TBI, these compounds may not only improve cognitive function but also improve the underlying neurobiology.”

His team is also studying the regulation of neural activity and cognition by the locus coeruleus-norepinephrine (LC-NE), a system in the brain that regulates the central nervous system (CNS) and modulates many brain functions, attention, memory, decision-making, and sensory processing, particularly in response to stress and traumatic brain injury. Much of this work has involved collaboration with a core of TBI researchers within the Department of Neuroscience and across departments in the Rowan-Virtua School of Translational Biomedical Engineering & Sciences, which Devilbiss credits for fostering such a supportive research environment.

“The collaborative environment here at Rowan has been essential in advancing our research,” he said. “I feel very, lucky to be in a place where these translational linkages are possible.”

Rowan University researchers are passionate about what they do. Find more at Meet Our Researchers.