University of Virginia School of Medicine and Naval Medical Research Command researchers received a $5.3 million Department of Defense grant announced November 21, 2025, to combat blast-related brain injuries affecting military personnel.

“This is about moving from concern to capability, turning careful science into practical ways to identify, prevent, and treat blast-related brain injury,” said Dr. James Stone, a UVA Health radiologist leading the research. The four research projects will explore the neurovascular unit—where blood vessels and brain tissue interact—and how damage to this system causes chronic health conditions.

Dr. Stone explained that many service members “do not feel like the person they were before they entered the military” due to blast exposures, noting that providing diagnosis and explanation “would be an enormous contribution to this community.”

The project builds on nearly 20 years of research and aims to develop biomarkers, establish safe exposure limits, and create treatment protocols.

“We are very optimistic that the work being done right now is going to make a real difference for these affected populations,” Stone said.