Closed-head controlled impact model in adult rats- VandeVord Lab v1

This is a protocol to describe the materials and methods utilized to perform preclinical traumatic brain injury (TBI) using a closed-head controlled impact model in adult rats. The model utilizes an electromagnetic actuator to deliver an impact to the intact scalp and has been optimized for use in adult rats. A skull template is used to mark the impact site and the injury parameters can be adjusted according to the desired severity of impact using the control box. The posting of this protocol is part of the mission of the PREClinical Interagency reSearch resourcE-TBI (PRECISE-TBI, precise-tbi.org) to improve clinical translation of therapeutics by providing an online catalog and standardized protocols to reduce the variability of model usage between laboratories.