University of Utah Health Partners with 22 Jumps to Advance Veteran-Focused Brain Injury Research

Collaboration aims to ensure research reflects real-world needs of veterans and first responders with traumatic brain injury and PTSD

Apr. 2, 2026 at 9:01am

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The Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center (TBICC) at University of Utah Health has formed a new partnership with 22 Jumps, a nonprofit supporting veterans through action sports and brain injury research. This collaboration brings veterans directly into the research process to ensure studies reflect their real-world experiences and needs.

Why it matters

Many service members return home with invisible wounds like traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This partnership aims to advance research that can improve outcomes and quality of life for veterans and first responders affected by these conditions.

The details

The TBICC is known for its translational, clinically meaningful TBI research, including DOD-funded initiatives. However, the center recognized that without direct veteran involvement, their work may miss critical context. Through 22 Jumps, veterans serve as advisors and consultants, shaping research questions, recruitment strategies, and communication of results. The partnership also allows TBICC researchers to gain insights into the challenges veterans face not just during deployment, but in training, on base, and after returning home.

  • The partnership between TBICC and 22 Jumps was formed in 2026.
  • 22 Jumps hosts an annual jump event around Memorial Day to honor service members and highlight their mission of healing and research.

The players

Traumatic Brain Injury and Concussion Center (TBICC)

A research center at University of Utah Health that is advancing translational, clinically meaningful research on traumatic brain injury.

22 Jumps

A nonprofit organization that uses action sports like skydiving and BASE jumping to help veterans confront fear, build community, and rediscover resilience. The organization also directs most of its fundraising efforts toward TBI and mental health research.

Tristan Wimmer

Veteran and extreme athlete who founded 22 Jumps. He serves as a consultant on multiple TBICC research efforts and co-leads advisory boards connected to DOD-funded initiatives.

Carrie Esopenko, PhD

Co-director of the TBICC and associate professor in the Department of Neurology at University of Utah Health.

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What they’re saying

“Tristan strives to make sure that money raised for research goes directly to research. Very little money donated to their organization goes to overhead.”

— Carrie Esopenko, Co-director of the TBICC

“Providing the space to actually sit there and talk to veterans and say, 'OK, are we getting at what we need to be getting at?' And they're saying, 'Not completely. You didn't think of this or this.'”

— Carrie Esopenko, Co-director of the TBICC

“When we're writing things up to give it back to the audience… we bring it to them [veterans] first. And they tell us, 'No, you can't say it like that. It would be better if you presented the information in a way that speaks to our experiences.'”

— Carrie Esopenko, Co-director of the TBICC

What’s next

The TBICC and 22 Jumps will continue their collaborative research efforts, with Tristan Wimmer serving as a consultant and co-leading advisory boards. The annual Memorial Day jump event hosted by 22 Jumps will also continue to be an important part of their partnership.

The takeaway

This partnership between the TBICC and 22 Jumps represents a transformational approach to brain injury research, where veterans and first responders are directly involved in shaping the research agenda and ensuring the work is truly responsive to their needs and experiences. By centering the voices of those most affected, this collaboration aims to advance more impactful and compassionate care for those living with the invisible wounds of TBI and PTSD.