Special Forces Trust Collaborates with DoW/USU Brain Tissue Repository to Advance Suicide Prevention Research
Southern Pines, NC — The Special Forces Trust (SFT) announced today a groundbreaking collaboration with the DoW/Uniformed Services University (USU) Brain Tissue Repository (BTR) as part of SFT’s Beyond the Battlefield:
Suicide Prevention and Invisible Wounds program. This collaboration aims to uncover biological answers that may one day reduce suicide in the Special Forces community and save lives.
SFT is recognized by U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM), U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), 1st Special Forces Command (1st SFC), and the Warrior Care Coalition as the first call in the established protocol when suicide occurs within the Green Beret community. With this unique role comes responsibility to lead the search for solutions.
“Every time we lose a warrior to suicide, the impact reverberates through the entire Regiment,” said Jodi Burns, CEO of the Special Forces Trust. “This alliance with the DoW/USU Brain Tissue Repository will help us move beyond grief to answers—answers written in the very tissue of the brain—that may reveal how to prevent the next loss.”
The DoW/USU Brain Tissue Repository is the only brain bank in the world dedicated exclusively to military service members. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and study brain specimens from those with and without traumatic brain injury, blast exposure, or post-traumatic stress. This research is already shedding light on microscopic changes—such as neuroinflammation, scarring, and axonal injury—that can influence memory, mood, and behavior.
Together, SFT and the BTR will:
– Expand awareness of voluntary brain donation within the Special Forces community.
– Advance research into the biological underpinnings of suicide and invisible wounds.
– Translate findings into tools that may identify risk earlier and guide treatment during life.
“Every donated brain is a gift that helps us understand the invisible wounds of war and accelerates discoveries that can ultimately save lives,” said Dr. Daniel Perl, Director of the DoW/USU Brain Tissue Repository.
Through Beyond the Battlefield, and now with our collaboration with the DoW/USU Brain Tissue Repository, SFT is leading the charge against the invisible wounds of war.
About Special Forces Trust
Special Forces Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting U.S. Army Green Berets and their families through programs focused on wellness, purpose, and heritage. The Trust provides critical resources, education, and community-driven initiatives designed to serve the Special Forces community across generations.
About the DoW/USU Brain Tissue Repository
The Brain Tissue Repository at the Uniformed Services University is the only brain bank dedicated solely to military service members. Its mission is to collect, store, and analyze brain specimens to advance understanding of traumatic brain injury and the overall health of the warfighter brain.
Our Contact Information
Special Forces Trust
677 S Bennett Street
Southern Pines, NC 28387
910-725-7034
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