08/06/2026
A $28 million clinical trial is happening right now at USF Health, funded by the State of Florida, to help veterans with traumatic brain injury. It's enrolling now. It's free. And most Florida families have never heard of it.
The trial studies hyperbaric oxygen therapy for veterans with TBI: a gold-standard, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study led by Dr. Harry van Loveren at USF Health's Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair. It was spearheaded by former Speaker Paul Renner, a retired Naval officer who used his position as to fund alternative therapies for veterans instead of leaving them with pills and a six-month follow-up appointment.
The results from earlier studies are hard to ignore: improved neurocognitive function in 21 of 25 measures, reduced PTSD and post-concussive symptoms across pooled DOD data, and over 31,000 patients treated nationwide with documented results.
Participants receive 40 HBOT sessions, full cognitive and neurobehavioral testing, bloodwork, and a stipend, all at zero cost. The staff running the program are veterans themselves.
If you are a veteran or service member with a diagnosed TBI, or you love someone who is, visit hbot.usf.edu and fill out the interest form.
Veterans gave everything for this country. The least we can do is make sure they know this exists.
