TRANSCENDENT (Transforming Research by Assessing Neuroinformatics across the Spectrum of Concussion by Embedding Interdisciplinary Data-collection to Enable Novel Treatments), one of OBI’s newest Integrated Discovery Programs (IDPs), is set to redefine concussion care in Canada and the world. Through a national Priority Setting Partnership exercise, over 1,000 participants—patients with lived experience, caregivers, and clinicians—identified the top ten unanswered questions in concussion care. This patient-centered approach shaped the foundation of TRANSCENDENT, ensuring its research focuses on the most pressing concerns of those affected by concussions. Uniquely positioned to address these top ten priority areas, TRANSCENDENT is committed to improving patient outcomes in meaningful ways.

Since its launch this year, TRANSCENDENT has quickly become a hub for Canadian concussion expertise by embracing an inclusive and comprehensive approach. Unlike previous studies that focused on specific groups, such as professional athletes or military veterans, TRANSCENDENT collects data across the full spectrum of concussion patients, incorporating diverse ages, genders, and injury mechanisms. “The program also tackles a significant challenge in concussion research; individuals with conditions like ADHD, anxiety, and depression, who often experience poorer outcomes, were frequently excluded from previous concussion studies. By removing these barriers, TRANSCENDENT is advancing the field through innovative data linkage, interdisciplinary collaboration, and the development of personalized care pathways that consider each patient’s unique characteristics and needs,” emphasized TRANSCENDENT program lead Dr. Roger Zemek, a pediatric emergency physician and senior scientist at Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO).