• Accomplishments
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• Research
• Spinal Cord Injury Projects
• Traumatic Brain Injury Projects
  • Assessment & Intervention for Mild TBI
  • Can Eye Movements Predict Persistent Problems in Paediatric Mild TBI?
  • Cognitive Neuroscience of Maladaptive Behaviours in Adolescents with Traumatic Brain Injury
  • DECRA Trial (DECompressive CRAniectomy Trial)
  • Enhancing Neurogenesis Post -TBI
  • Fluid Resuscitation in TBI
  • Headstart: Multi-family Groups for Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Hypothermia in Childhood TBI (HiTBIC)
  • Improving the functional communication ability of adults with TBI
  • In Vivo Hippocampal Studies in Rats
  • Long term consequences of childhood head injury - 15 year follow-up
  • Measuring the Impact of TBI on People's Lives
  • Mobility Following Childhood TBI
  • New Treatments for Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries
  • Neural Basis of Communication Disorder in Children
  • Neurotrauma Tissue/Fluid Bank
  • Normoglycaemia in Intensive Care Traumatic Brain Injury Study (NICE-TBI)
  • Preventing Neuronal Cell Death Following Brain Trauma
  • Prevention and Treatment of Social Problems Following TBI
  • Rehabilitation of Attention Following TBI
  • Role of Tissue Type Plasminogen Activator
  • TBI in Older Adults
  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Treatment in Depression After Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Traumatic Hypoxia and Cerebral Inflammation
  • Virtual Reality and Upper Limb Function Following TBI in Children
• Targeted Initiatives
• Completed TBI and SCI Projects
• Program Grants

Normoglycaemia in Intensive Care Traumatic Brain Injury Study (NICE-TB

The Impact of Glycaemic Control on Mortality and Neurological Function in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Sub-study of a Large Randomised Trial

Chief Investigator: A/ Professor Simon Finfer, Professor John Myburgh
Lead Organisation: Monash University Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine
VNI Funding: $98,797
Project Start Date: 01-Nov-07

Project Summary:
High blood glucose is a common finding in people who are acutely ill and is associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes. A recent study, conducted at a hospital in Belgium, found preliminary evidence that controlling blood glucose in people with brain injuries may improve chances of recovery. However, other researchers have not been able to replicate these findings.

The Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Clinical Trials Group is conducting a large multi-centre study (The NICE Study) to determine the effect of tightly controlling blood glucose in critically ill patients in Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Units.

This study will focus on the recovery of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who are part of the NICE study. People who survive traumatic brain injury may be severely disabled. For this reason, any treatment that may reduce disability in people that survive will lead to significant benefits to the community in terms of improved quality of life and cost savings. This study will compare death rates and degree of disability in people with TBI who have had their blood glucose controlled at different levels. This study is based on the hypothesis that the prevention of even moderate increases in blood glucose will have a protective effect on the nervous system. This will lead to a reduction in the number of people who die or who survive with a severe disability. This study has the potential to reduce the burden of disability on people with TBI and their families. This study may also lead to significant cost savings for the community, making resources available for the treatment of other conditions.