UNT Health Fort Worth's $5 Million Military Brain-Health Study Has Enrolled More Than 400 Veterans and Service Members
Operation Enduring Brain Health, a two-year longitudinal study led by UNT Health's Institute for Translational Research, is examining traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress and cognitive impairment in active-duty service members and veterans. Enrollment began in spring 2026 and is working toward 1,000 participants, funded by a $5 million state investment.
FORT WORTH - As the nation marked Veterans Day, UNT Health Fort Worth advanced a $5 million state-funded research initiative aimed at the brain-health challenges facing military service members and veterans, the university announced. The study, Operation Enduring Brain Health, is led by UNT Health's Institute for Translational Research.
The design is longitudinal and two years long: researchers are examining conditions such as traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress and cognitive impairment using cognitive and functional assessments, brain imaging and blood samples, the university said. The goal is to identify opportunities for earlier intervention, improve preventive care and inform future clinical trials.
Enrollment began in spring 2026 and has passed 400 participants, with researchers working toward a goal of 1,000. It is UNT Health's first brain-health research study specifically focused on military service members and veterans. Dr. Raul Vintimilla, the institute's Institutional Review Board regulatory director, serves as the study's principal investigator.
The $5 million state investment supports the study's initial two-year period, and researchers hope to build on the findings through continued work, the university said. Service members and veterans interested in the study can find information at oebh.org or by calling 817-735-7805.
