XCEED Physical Therapy's Lauren Carter Makes Her Mark as First Author in Newly Published mTBI Research

Lauren Carter, physical therapist and owner of XCEED Physical Therapy, has been named first author on a newly published research article in NeuroImage: Reports. The article, "Volume-based bias in automated measurements of lateral ventricle and hippocampal volumes of mild traumatic brain injury patients," examines how automated brain measurement tools may introduce size-related bias when analyzing lateral ventricle and hippocampal volumes in mTBI patients. Being listed as first author is a significant distinction in academic research, reflecting Lauren's direct leadership role in the study from conception through publication.

This milestone is part of a broader commitment to mTBI research that Lauren has cultivated through her work as a Research Consultant with the IMGEN Research Group in Las Vegas. As part of an interprofessional team, her research focuses on identifying changes in brain volume across specific regions and connecting those changes to the symptoms patients actually report, such as headaches, balance problems, cognitive difficulties, and emotional changes. Understanding these connections allows Lauren to provide more targeted, evidence-informed care to patients recovering from concussions and brain injuries.

Lauren's path to first authorship is the result of years of dedicated involvement with the IMGEN Research Group. She joined IMGEN in 2020 as Project Supervisor, where she oversaw 30 interns, directed the completion of 8 research projects, and contributed writing to 9 research articles over a three-year period. In 2023, she transitioned into her current role as Research Consultant, where she has taken on a more hands-on role in active research, including co-authorship on two published articles and an abstract accepted by the Radiological Society of North America. That progression from supervisor to contributing researcher to first author reflects a deliberate and sustained investment in advancing the science behind mTBI care.

This commitment to research is not separate from patient care. It directly shapes the way Lauren approaches evaluation and treatment at XCEED Physical Therapy every day.

Publications and Scholarly Works

• Knoblauch T, Rain L, Napatkamon A, et al. (Carter L). Association between cortical lobar volumetrics and clinical outcomes in mild traumatic brain injury. ARRS 2022; Abstract number: 2150, Oral presentation. (Presenting Author)
• Vanier C, Santhanam P, Rochester N, et al. (Carter L). Symptom persistence relates to volume and asymmetry of the limbic system after mild traumatic brain injury. J Clin Med. 2024; 13(17):5154.
• Carter L, Surti T, Abildskov TJ, Shum E, Hertzler AR, Dodda M, et al. Volume-based bias in automated measurements of lateral ventricle and hippocampal volumes of mild traumatic brain injury patients. NeuroImage: Reports. 2026; 6(3):100361.