WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute

NeuroPerformance Innovation Center

Prevention. Recovery. Performance.

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About Our Clinic

The NeuroPerformance Innovation Center (NPIC) at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute is pioneering the future of brain health and performance. Built on the pillars of prevention, recovery, and performance optimization, the NPIC combines world-class clinical care, cutting-edge research, and community outreach to improve lives across West Virginia and beyond. 

The NPIC is home to one of the nation’s most comprehensive traumatic brain injury (TBI) programs. Our multidisciplinary team includes rehabilitation specialists, neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists (adult and pediatric), physical and occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists. Together, we provide coordinated, same-day care—something you won’t find anywhere else in the country.

National Leadership, Local Impact

Our vision is bold: to establish the NPIC as a national leader in brain injury care and performance innovation, while ensuring that every West Virginian has access to the highest level of care. Already recognized with a national grant for our comprehensive TBI program, we are working with clinics across the country to set new standards in post-acute care and long-term recovery. 

Aligned with West Virginia University’s land-grant mission, the NPIC is dedicated to education, research, and outreach. We train future physicians and scientists, conduct groundbreaking studies, and provide care that transforms the lives of patients, families, and communities.

Innovation in Research & Performance

The NeuroPerformance Innovation Center is transforming the way we understand, treat, and optimize brain health. Through advanced clinical care and pioneering research, we are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in prevention, recovery, and performance. 

  • Concussion & Brain Injury Clinic
    The NPIC is home to one of the nation’s most comprehensive concussion and traumatic brain injury programs. Our interdisciplinary team—including neurologists, psychiatrists, psychologists, neuropsychologists, rehabilitation specialists, and therapists—provides coordinated, same-day care that is unmatched anywhere else in the country. We also lead the nation in using blood-based biomarkers to more accurately classify and guide recovery from brain injury. 
  • Recovery Therapy
    Innovation in recovery goes beyond traditional therapy. At the NPIC, patients have access to advanced treatments such as sensory deprivation float tanks, photobiomodulation (light therapy), and virtual and augmented reality therapies. These approaches are being studied and applied to accelerate healing, strengthen resilience, and enhance overall brain performance. 
  • Gait Lab
    Our state-of-the-art Gait Lab serves both patients with movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, and elite athletes seeking to maximize performance. By analyzing movement with precision technology, our team develops individualized plans that improve mobility, restore balance, and unlock physical potential. 

Together, these programs exemplify how the NPIC is redefining recovery and performance—improving lives today while shaping the future of brain health. 

Youth Athletic Program

Applying elite-level concussion expertise to help protect young athletes, prevent injuries, and guide safe recovery. 

In partnership with Riddell, the RNI launched the nation’s most comprehensive student-athlete safety program in Marion County. The initiative provides 100 personalized Riddell Axiom smart helmets with InSite Analytics, baseline cognitive testing, emergency action planning, CPR training, and access to virtual reality telemedicine services. 

This marks the first deployment of Riddell’s Axiom helmets—with InSite impact analytics—in West Virginia schools. By pairing advanced hardware with rigorous neuroscience research, RNI aims to protect athletes today and inform long-term safety strategies for the future. 

By combining advanced technology with expert clinical oversight, the program is setting a new national standard for protecting young athletes on and off the field. 

Domestic Violence Program

Survivors of domestic violence face a high risk of repeated, often undiagnosed concussions. The RNI is combining comprehensive, world-class, clinical concussion protocols with a first-class, VIP experience to support, treat and care for domestic violence survivors. 

The RNI’s dVIP Program combines world-class concussion care with a supportive, dignified experience—offering therapies such as float tank treatments, light therapy, and catered meals, all free of charge. 

With personalized care coordination and advanced clinical protocols, the program is helping survivors across West Virginia heal physically, emotionally, and cognitively, while working to expand services to reach even more in need. 

The RNI is reaching more survivors of domestic violence than ever before, yet we know so many more could benefit from our help/services. Our goal is to expand our services, grow our program, and serve more domestic violence survivors from all over West Virginia. Our goal is not only to treat the physical, emotional and cognitive consequences of the concussion; we also strive to educate on the signs and symptoms of concussion and when it is safe to resume normal activities.

First Responders Program

Firefighters, law enforcement officers, and EMTs—our “tactical athletes”—face an elevated risk of concussions and cognitive strain due to the high-stakes nature of their work. 

The RNI’s First Responder Program provides specialized evaluation, rehabilitation, and performance optimization designed for these essential professionals. Services include advanced brain health assessments, targeted therapies, and personalized recovery strategies to strengthen resilience and sustain peak performance. 

With tailored care and ongoing support, the program ensures that first responders are equipped to protect their communities while safeguarding their own health and well-being.

Clinical Leadership

See all Neurology Faculty
Javier Cárdenas, MD

Javier Cárdenas, MD

Chair
Department of Neurology
WVU Rockefeller Innovation Center

WVU Rockefeller Innovation Center