The Tech-Fueled Alliance Tackling Veterans' Invisible Wounds

HARRISBURG, Pa. – July 30, 2026 – For veterans grappling with the persistent, invisible wounds of service—traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress (PTSD)—the road to recovery is often long and fraught with treatments that fall short. But in a quiet corner of Harrisburg University, a radical new approach is offering hope. The Aurelius Brain Health and Human Performance Program, a non-profit clinic, is pioneering an accelerated, multi-modal protocol that is showing profound results for those who felt they had run out of options.

Since opening its doors in January 2025, the donor-funded program has provided cost-free, confidential care to over sixty veterans and Special Operations Forces (SOF) from across the nation and beyond. Its patent-pending, 19-day protocol integrates three distinct modalities: structured physical training, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and a cornerstone therapy delivered by advanced hyperbaric chambers from the Istanbul-based manufacturer, HPO.TECH.

The collaboration between the Aurelius Program and HPO.TECH represents a powerful new model in healthcare innovation—one where philanthropic vision, academic resources, and cutting-edge technology converge to address one of the most pressing challenges facing the military community.

A New Blueprint for Healing

The Aurelius Protocol is not just a single treatment but an intensive, holistic symphony of therapies designed to work in concert. Veterans who have completed the program describe life-altering changes. One participant reported a “90% improvement with my PTSD” and “massive improvement with my anxiety and hypervigilance symptoms.” Another noted that after eight years of being unable to exercise due to inflammation, the protocol helped him get back to working out in just two weeks.

At the heart of this success is the program's integrated structure. Each day, participants engage in a carefully orchestrated schedule that combines physical exertion with two powerful, brain-focused technologies. The goal, according to program leadership, is to leverage the synergistic effects of stacking these therapies in a concentrated timeframe. This accelerated approach stands in stark contrast to traditional treatment models, which often involve weekly appointments stretched over months or years.

“We founded Aurelius on a simple belief: those who have sacrificed the most for our country deserve access to the most innovative and holistic care available,” said Anson Flake, Co-founder of Aurelius Brain Health and Human Performance. “The Aurelius Protocol delivers a novel holistic method that addresses the invisible wounds of service through an integrated, accelerated 19-day cohort.”

The program was co-founded by Flake, who previously co-founded sports-medicine manufacturer HydroWorx, and Robert Ortenzio, the co-founder and chairman of national rehabilitation provider Select Medical Corporation. Their combined expertise in healthcare innovation and business has created a robust foundation for the non-profit's ambitious mission.

The Technology Under Pressure

A critical component of the daily protocol takes place inside HPO.TECH's ATLANTIS and MEDITERRANEAN multiplace hyperbaric chambers. During these sessions, participants breathe 93-96 percent pure oxygen within a chamber pressurized to 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA), roughly equivalent to the pressure experienced 33 feet underwater. This process, known as hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), significantly increases the amount of oxygen dissolved in the body's tissues, including the brain.

A growing body of research suggests that this oxygen-rich environment can trigger the body’s natural healing mechanisms, reduce inflammation, encourage the formation of new blood vessels, and promote neuroplasticity. The Aurelius program is leveraging this potential to repair the neurological damage associated with TBI and PTSD. The press release points to several recent studies, including a 2023 longitudinal study in Military Medicine and 2022 and 2024 reviews in Frontiers in Neurology, that support HBOT's potential as a neuromodulatory technique for these conditions.

HPO.TECH, a relative newcomer founded in 2020, has quickly established itself as a global player with one of the most extensive lists of international certifications in the industry, and is currently pursuing U.S. FDA clearance. The company's chambers at Aurelius are designed for clinical rigor, featuring breathing systems that synchronize with each user's respiratory rhythm to ensure precise oxygen delivery.

“We're very proud to be supporting the Aurelius project,” said Alexandru Harbuzaru, Chief Business Development Officer at HPO.TECH. “Anson, Bob, and their team are running a serious chronic TBI and PTSD protocol for veterans and special operators who have run out of options through conventional care. Our role is to provide the equipment that lets them do that work safely, every session, without compromise, day in, day out.”

A Scalable Model for National Impact

The success of the Aurelius Program has not gone unnoticed. The unique partnership model—a non-profit clinic, hosted by a university, and powered by private industry technology and philanthropy—is attracting attention as a potential blueprint for wider adoption. HPO.TECH has further deepened its commitment by donating a new, purpose-built four-seat hyperbaric chamber to help expand the program's capacity.

This innovative approach has also captured the interest of lawmakers. Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick recently visited the facility and has since signaled support for federal funding to expand the model. The introduction of U.S. Senate Bill 3130 aims to provide a legislative pathway to scale this type of integrated, high-tech care for veterans nationwide.

If successful, such funding could catalyze a significant shift in veteran mental healthcare, creating new centers of excellence that combine cutting-edge treatments outside the traditional confines of the VA system. For the thousands of service members struggling with the lingering effects of combat, the work being done in Harrisburg represents more than just an innovative application of technology; it is a tangible demonstration that healing is possible.