About

Our Mission

The UCSF Brain and Spinal Injury Center (BASIC) advances the understanding and treatment of brain and spinal cord injury by translating basic neuroscience into clinical practice. Our mission is to improve patient outcomes through research, clinical innovation, education, and training of the next generation of neurotrauma clinicians and scientists, while also informing the public about neurotrauma research and care.

Who We Are

Founded in 2002, BASIC brings together investigators and clinicians committed to outstanding patient care and world-class research in traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury (SCI). Each member contributes deep expertise, and through close collaboration we create a research environment that accelerates the translation of fundamental discoveries into clinical practice.

Despite challenging economic conditions, this is an exciting time for neurological research. BASIC continues to build capabilities across the full spectrum of neurotrauma research and care.

Areas of Strength

Major areas of strength at BASIC include:

  • Clinical trials
    • Multi-center and investigator-initiated trials conducted at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) Trauma Center
  • Preclinical research
    • In vitro and in vivo models to study neural injury and repair
    • Identification of therapeutic targets
    • Engineering tissue repair using cellular and biomaterial implants
  • Translational neurotrauma research
    • Use of neurological outcome measures to assess survival, recovery, cognitive function, and treatment effects
  • Genetics and pharmacology
    • Identification of genetic determinants of injury
    • Pharmacologic strategies to prevent or reverse cellular damage
  • Data science and bioinformatics
    • Infrastructure linking preclinical and clinical neurotrauma data
  • Advanced clinical studies
    • ICU minute-to-minute patient monitoring
    • Rich datasets to evaluate physiological changes in TBI and SCI and assess treatment effectiveness
  • Comprehensive patient care
    • Coordinated, multidisciplinary teams spanning emergency, operative, ICU, and restorative care
  • State-of-the-art neuroimaging
    • Advanced imaging to improve injury classification and guide treatment decisions

Leadership and Training

BASIC investigators serve in national and international leadership roles within the neurotrauma community and are actively developing categorization criteria and clinical treatment guidelines for TBI and SCI. The Center offers a dynamic, collaborative environment for recruiting and training highly qualified clinicians and laboratory scientists.

What Is Neurotrauma?

Neurotrauma refers to traumatic injury of the brain and spinal cord, which can impair movement, sensation, memory, and other cognitive functions.

  • Every 21 seconds, someone in the United States sustains a brain injury
  • Every 41 minutes, someone sustains a spinal cord injury
  • Neurotrauma is the leading cause of death in younger individuals and the most common cause of neurological disability

Each year:

  • Approximately 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury
  • 5.3 million live with chronic disability from TBI
  • About 12,000 Americans sustain a spinal cord injury
  • Approximately 200,000 people live with chronic SCI

The economic costs are staggering, amounting to billions of dollars annually in medical expenses and lost productivity. The personal and family impact of these injuries is profound.

Who Studies Neurotrauma—and How Research Becomes Care

BASIC investigators represent a multidisciplinary group whose expertise spans neural injury and repair, neurocritical care, biomedical engineering, and bioinformatics. The Center occupies nearly 10,000 square feet of integrated basic and clinical research space at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, enabling close collaboration between laboratory and clinical teams.

Key resources include:

  • An animal research core supporting translational studies and preclinical testing of devices and therapeutics
  • A clinical research core housing the UCSF Critical Care Data Warehouse
  • Participation as one of 11 national hubs in the NIH-funded Neurological Emergencies Trials Network

BASIC investigators receive support from the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and numerous private foundations.

Impact on Patient Care

The SFGH Neurotrauma Program and BASIC have successfully translated research discoveries into measurable improvements in patient care—saving lives that would likely have been lost just a decade ago. This model of integrated neurotrauma care has gained international recognition, with institutions across the United States and Europe working to replicate the UCSF–SFGH approach.

What Is Translational Research?

At BASIC, translational research extends beyond moving discoveries from bench to bedside. It also includes applying research findings to everyday medical practice in the community.

Faculty engage in:

  • Basic and clinical research
  • Education and outreach to clinicians, emergency responders, scientists, and the public

BASIC and the SFGH Neurotrauma Program sponsor an annual Neurocritical Care of the Trauma Patient Symposium, providing up-to-date education on the latest advances in neurotrauma research and treatment.