Detection and Treatment of Traumatic Brain Injury in Military Working Dogs

This government solicitation, DHA26BZ01-NV002, seeks to identify and evaluate existing traumatic brain injury (TBI) detection and treatment methods for repurposing in military working dogs (MWDs) suffering battlefield injuries. TBI is a common, high-mortality injury in MWDs, with current detection relying on altered mentation and physical signs, and treatments based on human guidelines. The objective is to review research from rodent, canine, or other large animal models that can be adapted for MWDs, explicitly excluding new canine testing. Phase I requires identifying suitable detection/treatment methodologies, developing a solution addressing TBI severity, assessing feasibility in Role 1/2 settings within 72 hours, and creating a research plan for in vitro/in vivo feasibility studies using appropriate animal models. Phase II involves developing and testing prototypes based on Phase I, comparing them to current MWD TBI methods, and outlining FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) approval plans. Phase III focuses on optimizing the prototypes for FDA CVM approval, demonstrating their usefulness with end-users, and transitioning them into commercially viable products for both military and civilian applications, including emergency veterinary facilities and other government agencies.