Invisible Wounds Foundation

04/20/2026

Too many veterans are diagnosed with PTSD or anxiety when the root cause is actually a brain injury from blast exposure.

That's the diagnostic gap Invisible Wounds Foundation exists to close. In a recent Facebook Live conversation with DAV (Disabled American Veterans), IWF Chief Medical Scientist Dr. James Kelly spoke directly to veterans, advocates, and families about what's being missed, and what better care could look like.

Watch the full conversation, including questions submitted by veterans, here:
https://youtu.be/k7n9aZDDD0o?si=XPkf275KohhMgrDZ

04/17/2026

Since 2000, over 500,000 cases of TBI have been reported. Now, with ongoing military action against Iran, TBI has become the defining injury of modern warfare, and veterans with combat-related brain injury are four times more likely to attempt su***de than those without.

PBS NewsHour covered the issue recently: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/traumatic-brain-injuries-become-defining-injury-for-u-s-troops-in-post-9-11-conflicts

IWF Chief Medical Scientist Dr. James Kelly made the case to Congress directly: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2026/04/06/congress_must_support_research_on_military_brain_injury_and_veteran_su***de_1174862.html

Invisible Wounds Foundation exists to accelerate the research that leads to better detection, diagnosis, and treatment for blast-exposed service members and veterans, in partnership with DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and others committed to getting this right.

More than 350 U.S. service members have been injured since military action against Iran began in February. The majority of those are traumatic brain injuries. TBIs have become the defining injury of post 9/11 conflicts, and the symptoms can often linger for years, or even a lifetime. Liz Landers dis...

04/15/2026

Spots are going fast for the 2026 Invisible Wounds Foundation Golf Invitational at Olympia Fields Country Club on June 15.

Olympia Fields is one of the most prestigious private clubs in the country and a four-time major championship host. Last year, we left that course reminded of why this work matters—a room full of people who showed up not just to play golf but to stand behind the research that service members, veterans, and their families deserve.

That research is urgent. And so is this invitation.

Foursomes, twosomes, and individual spots are available. Sponsorship opportunities are also open.

Register here: https://invisiblewounds.networkforgood.com/events/95645-2026-invisible-wounds-foundation-golf-invitational

04/13/2026

The battlefield has changed, and so has the nature of war injuries.

As drone warfare becomes more common, brain injuries now account for the majority of U.S. casualties in the Iran conflict. These aren't mental health conditions. They're physical damage to the brain. And there is no FDA-approved treatment and no precision diagnostic tool to catch them in the field.

As Invisible Wounds Foundation Chief Medical Scientist Dr. James Kelly writes in Stars and Stripes: "Those who serve our country deserve the highest quality of care."

That's why we're building a research roadmap, guided by our Medical and Scientific Advisory Council, to fund the diagnostics and science our service members urgently need.

Read Dr. Kelly's full op-ed here: https://www.stripes.com/opinion/2026-04-07/drones,-traumatic-brain-injuries,-diagnosis-21306076.html

Unfortunately, all personnel are susceptible to attack and brain injury. Personnel need not be on the front lines or driving on IED-laden roads to incur a TBI.

04/07/2026

This week, Invisible Wounds Foundation CEO Shannon Finn Connell and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) CEO Barry Jesinoski published a joint op-ed in RealClearDefense with an urgent message for Congress.

Veterans with TBI diagnoses die by su***de at rates nearly double those without a TBI diagnosis. The diagnostic tools to reliably detect these injuries don't yet exist at scale. And critical federal research funding has been cut by 77%.

As Shannon and Barry write: "If we want to seriously reduce su***de, we must first learn to find the brain injuries we're currently missing."

Read the op-ed: https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2026/04/06/congress_must_support_research_on_military_brain_injury_and_veteran_su***de_1174862.html

03/30/2026

The science is advancing. The expertise is there. What's missing is coordination.

Across military, academic, and clinical communities, important work is happening. But fragmented efforts slow translation into real-world diagnostics and care.

Through the Military Brain Health Collaborative, we are working with researchers, clinicians, and partners to advance precision diagnostics and move promising science toward meaningful outcomes.

Progress is possible, and it depends on clarity, collaboration, and sustained commitment.
The work can't wait. Support military brain health research today: https://givebutter.com/0X7ZQk

03/24/2026

Post 6 of our Brain Injury Awareness Month series.

Understanding blast-related brain injury is not only about military readiness.

It is shaping the future of brain science.

What we learn about repeated blast exposure, invisible injury, and diagnostic precision will influence civilian neuroscience, trauma care, and long-term brain health research.

“Solving traumatic brain injury in military populations isn’t just about veterans. It will reshape how we diagnose and treat brain health for everyone.” –Dr. James Kelly, Invisible Wounds Chief Medical Scientist

The stakes extend far beyond one community. Progress here drives progress everywhere.

Hear directly from Dr. Kelly about the science behind this work. Join us live March 26 at 1PM ET with DAV: https://ow.ly/Hx8P50Yw0aj

03/19/2026

Post 5 of our Brain Injury Awareness Month series.

Military brain injury rarely affects only one person.

Families and caregivers often navigate uncertainty without clear answers, especially when symptoms are misunderstood or misattributed.

"Nobody prepares you for the uncertainty. You just keep showing up, hoping someone will finally have an answer." —Military spouse

When diagnosis is unclear, families are left searching for clarity while carrying invisible burdens of their own.

Clarity gives families something essential: direction, stronger support, and a path forward.

Join us live March 26 at 1PM ET - Your Questions Answered: A Conversation About Brain Injury in the Military, with Dr. James Kelly and DAV: https://www.facebook.com/events/1263042455925079

03/18/2026

We just welcomed one of the leading voices in brain injury research to our team.

Dr. Walter Koroshetz, former director of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) at NIH, has joined the Invisible Wounds Foundation as a board member and senior advisor.

"Brain injuries caused by exposure to blasts and concussive events are one of the most serious health issues facing our military service members." -Dr. Walter Koroshetz

500,000 U.S. service members have suffered these injuries since 2000. Many more have gone undiagnosed and untreated.

Read the full announcement and learn more about Dr. Koroshetz: https://ow.ly/EIiK50YvXxO

03/18/2026

This month, our Chief Medical Scientist Dr. James P. Kelly is sitting down with DAV to answer your questions about brain injury in the military.

Tune in March 26 at 1PM ET -- and drop your questions in the comments before then.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1263042455925079

03/16/2026

Post 4 of our Brain Injury Awareness Month series.

Military brain injury is often invisible. The consequences on service members and their communities are not.

"The misdiagnosis of TBI has a rippling effect on the spouse, family, and community at large and is why we urgently need to develop a precise diagnostic …" –Dr. Shannon Finn Connell, IWF CEO & Founder.

Among veterans in VA care, those with a recent TBI diagnosis had su***de rates nearly 94% higher than those without (VA, 2025 National Veteran Su***de Prevention Annual Report).

"Ryan died from his combat injuries from his service to this nation. He just didn't die right away." –Frank Larkin, IWF Board Member, speaking about his son Ryan, a Navy SEAL who died by su***de following years of blast exposure.

Behind every statistic is a life that could have unfolded differently. We can do better. And we must.

If you or someone you know is struggling, contact the Veterans Crisis Line: call or text 988, then press 1.

03/11/2026

Post 3 of our Brain Injury Awareness Month series.

Not every brain injury happens in a single moment.

Many service members experience repeated blast exposure over years of training and deployment. This cumulative exposure (often called "reblast") can affect the brain even when symptoms are not immediately visible.

Despite the scale of the problem, there are still no medically accepted diagnostic tools to detect blast-related brain injury in living patients, and no FDA-approved treatments.

Without the ability to diagnose, we cannot reliably treat. Closing this diagnostic gap is essential to protecting readiness and improving long-term outcomes.

Learn more at invisiblewounds.org/our-work