Dr. Rockswold continues to practice as a researcher in the field of TBI and is currently Principal Investigator for the Hyperbaric Oxygen in Brain Injury Treatment (HOBIT) trial. Early research suggests that increased oxygen levels to the body in a pressurized chamber, also known as hyperbaric oxygen (HB2O) therapy, might help heal the brain by reducing inflammation, increasing oxygen supply, and promoting the repair of brain tissue. The HOBIT trial is studying using HB2O therapy as a potential new treatment so that severe TBI patients can recover with less disability.

Dr. Rockswold was recently awarded a Research and Development Grant (U01) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to continue the HOBIT study. The trial was granted additional funds of $1,740,714 for 2025-26, and with subsequent four-year milestone achievements could receive a total of $6,147,911 in NIH funding.

In this continuation, the trial seeks to reach its target sample size of 200 participants. Its primary goals are to find the best oxygen treatment settings and compare the six-month results of HBO2 treatment to standard care. Additional objectives include determining effective treatment models, as well as analyzing intracranial pressure, brain tissue oxygen levels, and the rates of serious adverse events.