Relevance of the pre‐clinical models in TBI

In the absence of any effective translation from preclinical models to clinical application, what has been achieved by laboratory models of TBI? Analysis and assimilation of results from preclinical TBI studies is confounded by the heterogeneity of the models and the TBI paradigms employed. Variance in animal, injury location, severity, number, frequency, age of animal at injury and age of animal at analyses, not to mention the research focus of the investigators themselves, all contribute to the difficulties in data integration and interpretation. Nonetheless, preclinical TBI research has identified areas of focus and enabled creation of timelines of TBI pathobiology. Ultimately, validation of any potential therapeutic targets will require exploitation of the heterogeneity of preclinical models in order to facilitate clinical translation, given the heterogeneity of the patient population.