Traumatic brain injury
A patient-derived procedure we offer to selected adults with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and persistent post-traumatic symptoms, or a history of repeated head impacts. It uses bone marrow concentrate (BMAC) from your own marrow, which contains mesenchymal stromal cells, often called stem cells, and is given by IV and, in some cases, through the nose. We see patients from Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and across the United States.
What it is
A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain caused by an outside force, such as a fall, a collision, or a blow to the head. Boulder Biologics offers autologous biologic procedures for selected individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and persistent post-traumatic symptoms.
Shared biological features
As with Long COVID, lasting symptoms after TBI and repeated head injury are now thought to come partly from processes that continue after the injury (secondary injury), and not only from the first blow.
The brain's immune cells (microglia and astrocytes) can stay switched on long after an injury, which keeps nerve cells under stress. This immune dysregulation parallels inflammatory mechanisms described in Long COVID-associated cognitive impairment.
Refs. 1, 2Disruption of the blood–brain barrier and cerebral microvasculature impairs nutrient delivery, waste clearance, and neurovascular coupling, mechanisms now recognized in both post-traumatic and post-infectious neurological syndromes.
Refs. 3, 4In individuals with repetitive head impacts, chronic inflammation, axonal injury, and abnormal protein accumulation may drive progressive cognitive, behavioral, and motor symptoms over time.
Refs. 1, 5, 6In animal studies, signals from these cells affected inflammation, cell death, and small blood vessels after brain injury. Whether this changes symptoms or the course of neurodegeneration in people is not known.
Refs. 7, 8Human research
Two clinical studies have given people with severe TBI their own bone marrow mononuclear cells by IV within 48 hours of the injury. A randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial in children with severe TBI (47 randomized) concluded that the infusion was safe and feasible.9 A phase 1/2 study in 25 adults with severe TBI found the IV infusion safe and logistically feasible.10
These studies used a related but different approach from ours. The cells were bone marrow mononuclear cells, isolated and given within 48 hours of a severe injury, and the studies looked at safety and feasibility. Our procedure uses bone marrow concentrate for adults living with lasting symptoms. Two reviews cover the clinical trials of stem cells in TBI5 and the research on mesenchymal stem cells in TBI.2
For how mesenchymal stromal cells are thought to act, see Brain & neurological conditions.
Repetitive head trauma
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a brain disease described in people with a history of repeated head impacts, in sport or service.6 It can only be confirmed by examining brain tissue after death.11 For people who are living, research criteria exist for the related clinical syndrome, traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES). They are research criteria, not a diagnosis of CTE in life.12
If you have a history of repeated head impacts, we go over that history and your current symptoms together at your first visit.
What to expect
After a consultation that includes an imaging review and a case conference, bone marrow is aspirated from the back of the hip under local anesthesia and image guidance. The aspirate is minimally processed in our on-site lab and given the same visit by IV and, in selected cases, through the nose. Structured neurocognitive measures and symptom tracking follow over time.
See the full procedure on Brain & neurological conditions.
Talking it through
We work out together, case by case, whether this makes sense for you. That usually takes a few visits, including a review of your imaging and, where relevant, a case conference.
Traumatic brain injury, answered
It starts with a consultation: your medical history, an imaging review, and a case conference. Bone marrow is then aspirated under local anesthesia and image guidance, minimally processed in our on-site lab, and given the same visit by IV and, in selected cases, through the nose. Structured neurocognitive measures and symptom tracking follow over time.
No. Only autologous (patient-derived) cellular material is used. No donor cells are administered, and no culture expansion, genetic modification, or manufacturing of cells occurs.
No. CTE can be confirmed only by examining brain tissue after death. Research criteria exist for traumatic encephalopathy syndrome, the clinical disorder associated with CTE, but they are research criteria and not a diagnosis of CTE in life. If you have a history of repeated head impacts, we go over that history and your current symptoms with you.
We see adults with a history of traumatic brain injury and persistent post-traumatic symptoms, or a history of repeated head impacts, from Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins, and across the United States. We go over your injury history, imaging, and current symptoms with you first.
References
Safety
Autologous biologics reduce immune rejection risks seen with donor-derived products. Patients are screened carefully.
More on safety is on Brain & neurological conditions.
We describe these treatments only as far as the published evidence goes.
Consistent with FDA guidance and current scientific consensus, we avoid claims that mesenchymal stromal cells differentiate into functional brain cells in vivo. Any potential benefit is described as paracrine signaling, immune modulation, and support for endogenous repair, consistent with the prevailing literature.
References to "stem cells" on this page reflect cellular populations contained within autologous bone marrow–derived biologic material, not manufactured or expanded stem cell products.
The FDA has raised particular concern regarding allogeneic (donor-derived) stem cell products, including umbilical cord, placental, and amniotic products, marketed outside of approved clinical trials.
At Boulder Biologics:
Participation is voluntary, and treatment is undertaken only after a comprehensive informed-consent process.
As with Long COVID-associated cognitive dysfunction, intranasal delivery is explored as a route to allow biologic signaling molecules to access the central nervous system via olfactory and trigeminal pathways.
Related
Schedule a call about traumatic brain injury
Our team will review your injury history, imaging, and current symptoms, and tell you honestly whether this approach fits your case or whether another path makes more sense.
720-550-6175