Dr. Victor Pedro

Chief Innovation Officer, International Institute for the Brain

Bio Current as of September 11, 2020

As Chief Innovation Officer at the International Institute for the Brain (iBrain), I survey a growing universe of technological advances to identify emerging technologies, adaptive devices, applications and potential collaborations in order to optimize our students’ individual cognitive, emotional as well as physical performance and well-being. It is my mission to continue to contribute to the dialogue of changing neurorehabilitation from the present segmental model to a supra segmental model of rehabilitation.

Over 20+ years, this innovative approach has led to my pioneering the development of PEDROCIT®— a breakthrough, research-based diagnostic and treatment program designed to address brain and neurological dysfunction in children and adults. PEDROCIT detects and stabilizes abnormal structural and functional brain lesions resulting from acquired brain injury, traumatic and non-traumatic, as well as identifying a patient-specific treatment plan. PEDROCIT uses objective measures of subtle functional changes across a wide range of domains – visual and other sensory systems, motor systems including pupillary responses, the autonomic and vestibular systems – to diagnose a brain injury or dysfunction.

PEDROCIT uses a proprietary algorithm-based approach to analyze these data to identify the laterality and longitudinal level of the brain dysfunction. Algorithms determine how to best stabilize the underlying systems so that the patient can most benefit from treatment. The approach delivers a detailed individualized treatment plan including the type, duration, and frequency of noninvasive treatment modalities to stabilize and strengthen neural function, build metabolic capacity in the damaged neurological tissue, and provide a window of probability for the patient to maximize optimal functionality.

Much of the theoretical approach of PEDROCIT is grounded in my study of the work of pre-eminent physicians and researchers and their published research on neurological function. These include Rodolfo Llinas—(Fixed Action Patterns, thalamocortical dysrhythmia); Antonio Damasio—(the insular cortex and brain stem as critical platforms, and integration of the Reticular Activating System with the PIVC through small diameter afferent fibers); R. John Leigh—(eye movements providing diagnostic clues to brain function, motor, cognition, memory, etc.); Vilayanur Subramanian Ramachandran—(phantom limbs, visual perception, synesthesia, pain); Alexander Luria—(higher cortical functions, aphasias); David Hunter Hubel and Torsten Nils Wiesel—(cortical columnar functional organization); Vladimir Janda—(afferent input and mechanoreceptors); and Charles Scott Sherrington—(reciprocal inhibition/reciprocal innervation, and the tonic contraction of muscle).

Through my clinical work and pilot programs over the past two decades, I have successfully applied PEDROCIT in the treatment of more than 1,000 patients with brain-based disorders and injuries (from more than 30 states and 10 foreign countries). Many of these patients were referred to me after other methods of medical treatment had failed. In nearly all cases, patients had experienced lingering symptoms and cognitive deficits, often for months or years interfering with normal activities of daily life, including employment, school, and social interaction.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has registered the PEDROCIT trademark and issued the Certificate of Registration on July 14, 2020. References to Cortical Integrative Therapy (CIT) and CIT prior to this date have been changed to PEDROCIT® and PEDROCIT to maintain the Federal Trademark Registration.
My role at iBrain includes growing our research department with an eye toward developing new collaborations. I work to connect iBrain team members with innovators around the world, promoting the lively exchange of ideas that will lead to new innovations always grounded in research, efficacy and safety.

Over the course of 20 years, I have lectured extensively, both nationally and internationally, on PEDROCIT as a non-invasive, cost-effective treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), concussion, pain syndrome, vertigo, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), and other brain-related disorders. I continue to attend conferences to both learn from leading innovators and to present my work on PEDROCIT.