History of BRIGHT: Brian Injury Group – Hope through Treatment
This website is an informational portal for the BRIGHT Foundation, and a gateway to our projects CPCare.org, dedicated to family support, and CPCure.org, dedicated to finding a cure for chronic brain injury.
Established in 2002 by Matt Palaszynski, BRIGHT is a registered 501(c)(3) corporation led by parents, caregivers and the injured who have lived the challenges of brain injury firsthand. What began over 20 years ago as a grassroots group of families sharing resources has grown into a dynamic research and support network that bridges science, technology, and parent-driven advocacy.
Introduction: Who we serve
Chronic brain injury refers to a state months to years after an initial insult—such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) or stroke—when spontaneous recovery has plateaued and residual deficits persist.
We are unapologetically focused on finding a solution in our lifetime for chronic brain injury. Why? Because we are parents of brain injured children who want to run free, we are elderly stroke victims who want to regain our independence, we are spinal cord victims where respiratory complications threaten death daily due to our inability to move. The clock is ticking and we need a treatment that can make a difference fast.
Preventing brain injury via brain cooling minutes after the injury, finding genetic markers for Cerebral Palsy prior to birth, or preventing stroke with blood thinners are all extremely important research areas. But the window of opportunity for such treatments has long passed for our members living with chronic brain injury. Thus BRIGHT’s focus is on helping the 193 million people worldwide who are living with disability due to stroke, SCI, TBI, or Cerebral Palsy. If you are in that group, BRIGHT is here for you. Our Who We Serve page provides further details.
BRIGHT’s Research & Hypothesis Formation-The NeuroLoop™ Protocol
The NeuroLoop™ Protocol is a Global Standardized Methodology for HIE restoration. It is an Applied Synthesis of the foundational work of our Scientific Advisory Board. By moving beyond static treatment models into Adaptive N-of-1 Precision, the Protocol provides a Multimodal Sequence—incorporating cellular catalysts and AI-driven feedback—to accelerate the path to a functional cure
The NeuroLoop Protocol represents a synthesized approach to Cerebral Palsy, stacking & looping biological repair, metabolic fueling, and robotic guidance to cement new synaptic connections. Instead of a single intervention, the Loop is built on Assessment → Intervention → Measurement → Refinement. This acknowledges that one person’s CP (e.g., spastic diplegia) requires a different neuromodulation map than another’s (e.g., athetoid CP).
Our hypothesis is that functional recovery in chronic brain injury hinges on neuroplastic training to re-establish and strengthen connections, whereas stem cells alone provide only foundational support but insufficient functional restoration.
Thus BRIGHT’s Focus is on neuroplastic training such as Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy or robotic-assisted training, but combined with foundational support such as stem cells, vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). BRIGHT believes that significant function gain can only be achieved by combining the repair of the hardware “i.e. regrow damaged brain tissue with stem cells” and the repair of the software “i.e. re-wire with robotic-assisted training”. This hypothesis and our focus only on those currently disabled, is what sets BRIGHT apart from other organizations. Are you a“disruptive philanthropist”? Help fund our World Changing Project. Donate
We have outlined the evidence in depth on the following page if you care to dig into the scientific details: Evidence for BRIGHT’s Strategy towards a cure for Cerebral Palsy and Brain Injury.
BRIGHT’s Mission and Vision:
BRIGHT Foundation exists to transform outcomes for people affected by brain injury by:
- Identifying cutting edge strategy & accelerating cure-focused research in neuroregeneration, neuroplasticity, and neuromodulation to unlock synergistic gains.
- Equipping families and caregivers with best-practice tools, educational programs, and peer support.
- Advocating for policy changes and funding increases in brain injury research and care.
We envision a world where nobody suffers permanent disability from traumatic or acquired brain injury—and where every family has the resources to heal, grow, and thrive.
A Two-Decade History of Impact
Since 2002, BRIGHT has:
- Formed The BRIGHT Scientific Advisory Board which consists of pre-eminent scientists often the first in their fields to discover historical breakthroughs in brain rehabilitation.
- Raised seed funding to help accelerate cutting-edge research.
- Convened several Brain Injury Cure Summits, drawing top scientists, clinicians, and patient advocates.
- Developed CPCare.org, an award-winning caregiver portal with hundreds of active members.
- Launched CPCure.org, our dedicated research hub hosting collaborative projects with major universities.
Our founders—parents whose children faced life-altering brain injuries—knew that hope and information must go hand in hand. Today, BRIGHT’s 20 year history of scientific advocacy have influenced research priorities, helped spark biotech partnerships, and fast-tracked novel therapies into clinical practice.
BRIGHT is very active in events, with a heavy emphasis on advocacy and outreach. BRIGHT has been invited to speak at or attend prominent events to help advocate for and educate about the state of brain injury research and care. Some recent examples include, PKUIH, PKU MOU, TEDx, FORES (Intl Experts Group), SENIA (Special Education), Rotary, and The Benelux Gala.
What Makes BRIGHT Unique
No other organization combines these pillars:
1. Parent-Driven Leadership
- Governance by caregivers ensures every initiative addresses real-world needs.
- Lived experience guides research priorities and patient-centered outcome measures.
2. Cross-Disciplinary Scientific Collaboration
- A voluntary advisory board of neuroscientists, neurologists, bioengineers, and rehabilitation specialists.
- Real-time data sharing platforms that shorten the path from lab discovery to clinical application.
3. Integrated Family Support and Research Pipeline
- A closed-loop feedback system where caregiver observations inform lab hypotheses—and vice versa.
- Patient focused information modules on cutting-edge therapies, from neurostimulation to regenerative medicine.
4. Early adoption of Artificial Intelligence
- Use of Al to develop a pipeline of high priority research targets.
- Use of AI to develop information modules focused on patient and caregiver training.
This confluence of science, technology, and parent involvement places BRIGHT at a historic turning point. Our community is positioned to deliver radical improvements in cognitive function, motor skills, and quality of life.
The BRIGHT Scientific Advisory Board
BRIGHT’s Scientific Advisory Board includes leaders in their fields such as:
- Mike Merzenich, PhD often called the father of Brain Plasticity and the founder of the company that developed FastForward learning software.
- Ed Taub, PhD the developer of Constraint Induced Therapy.
- Neville Hogan, PhD of MIT and a pioneer in Robotic Assisted therapy.
These advisors guide our advocacy efforts. Their combined expertise ensures a focus on the most promising avenues for regeneration, synaptic repair, and functional recovery. See the full Scientific Advisory Board with photos and bios on our cpcure.org website.
Family and Caregiver Support (CPCare.org)
CPCare.org is a comprehensive online hub offering:
- Webinars & info-modules on topics such as spasticity management, cognitive rehabilitation strategies, and adaptive technology.
- Peer-led support groups segmented by injury type, age group, and geographic region.
- 24/7 caregiver email support staffed by trained volunteers who provide emotional support and resource referrals.
- Downloadable toolkits on home modification, assistive devices, and behavior-management techniques.
By empowering caregivers with knowledge and community, CPCare.org reduces isolation and improves long-term outcomes for survivors and their loved ones.
Research Initiatives Toward a Cure (CPCure.org)
CPCure.org drives our science-first agenda through:
- Seed funding for early-stage research in BRIGHT focus areas.
- Strategic partnerships with other non-profits, companies and research universities.
- A data consortium enabling open-access publication of negative and positive results.
This structured pipeline ensures that breakthroughs move swiftly from bench to bedside, with transparent reporting at every stage.
BRIGHT Success Stories and Testimonials
“Thank you for responding! I am a 56 year old woman with CP. GLAD BRIGHT is back, people need hope right now. Looks like you are in the business of giving that.”
— Nona G., Patient Member
“I would love to share my story hoping it would help other families. It would make u cry.”
— Susie T, Patient Member
“I’m committed to BRIGHT because we share a common vision to use science to impact the lives of children.”
— Michael Johnston, MD, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Kennedy Krieger Institute
These firsthand accounts highlight BRIGHT’s dual impact: reinvigorating scientific discovery while uplifting families navigating complex care journeys.
Donation and Fund Allocation
BRIGHT Foundation commits to fiscal transparency. Here is where funds go:
- Every donation helps seed research and clinical trials.
- Every donation supports caregiver education, support email hotlines, and online resources.
- Currently BRIGHT is 100% volunteer and pays zero administrative costs, ensuring efficient stewardship. As we grow this may need to change, but for the time being we are staffed by volunteers.
Upon request, we can provide an impact report with full details of our programs, stories from those we serve, etc. Click to see BRIGHT’s GuideStar Report. BRIGHT Foundation’s EIN# 71-0943703
How You Can Get Involved
Your involvement is critical to driving forward both family support and cure-focused research:
1. Donate: every dollar helps fund research, programs, and support services. Just email us at [email protected] to get details.
2. Volunteer: your professional skills in fundraising, event planning, or caregiver mentorship.
3. Advocate: by sharing our mission on social media and with local policymakers.
4. Attend our Brain Injury Cure Summits to network with experts and other families.
5. Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive research updates, care tips, and volunteer opportunities. Email us at [email protected] to subscribe.
Visit CPCare.org to join caregiver programs or CPCure.org to learn about research initiatives.
Transform hope into action. With your support, we can unlock the first definitive cure for brain injury. Together, let’s make permanent disability from brain injury a thing of the past!
