Media Spotlight | NBC affiliates feature Vielight in TBI research and BYU’s breakout season

Vielight Main — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 20:57:22 +0000

Two TV features in one weekend

This past weekend, two NBC affiliates shined a spotlight on how athletes and researchers are using the Vielight Neuro to support brain performance and recovery.

KSL-TV 5 (Salt Lake City, UT) aired a section focusing on an inside look at the Vielight Neuro, which BYU Football athletes are finding success with this season, focusing on Vielight’s patented intranasal-transcranial PBM’s role in performance and recovery, along with their breakout year.
KCRA 3 (Sacramento, CA) profiled former Oregon State linebacker Rico Petrini Jr., who participated in the University of Utah’s photobiomodulation study. Petrini shared that he’s experienced “about 80-90% improvement” and is “in the best place [he’s] been in 20 years,” while the station also noted BYU’s team-wide use of the technology and that two NFL teams are evaluating it.

Third Feature: CBS Sacramento

CBS News (Sacramento) featured former pro football player Rico Petrini Jr. and his journey with Vielight brain photobiomodulation therapy after years of hits on the field. This summer, University of Utah researchers published phase two of their TBI clinical study (n=44) using transcranial + intranasal photobiomodulation (itPBM) with Vielight technology over 8–10 weeks. This builds on their previous published itPBM TBI study (n=49).

From recovery to performance: why this matters

Independent coverage is catching up with what researchers and athletes have been exploring for years: transcranial-intranasal photobiomodulation (tPBM) can modulate brain activity and may support functional outcomes that matter on and off the field.

In 2019, a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study published in Scientific Reports showed that a single 20-minute session with the Vielight Neuro Gamma increased alpha/beta/gamma power, decreased delta/theta, and altered functional connectivity and graph-theory network measures in healthy older adults, direct evidence of non-invasive neuromodulation. Nature
At the University of Utah, studies with collision athletes have reported consistent improvements on objective measures (e.g., processing speed/strength) after at-home tPBM use, with ongoing clinical research underway.
Phase 1 – Vielight Uni of Utah TBI Study Cognitive test battery (e.g., CVLT-3, D-KEFS, CPT-3, NIH Toolbox).
Phase 2 – Vielight Uni of Utah TBI Study Motor/functional measures (reaction time drop test, Grooved Pegboard, grip dynamometer, MiniBEST.

KCRA’s report also referenced a BYU analysis noting potential indicators of reduced brain inflammation during the season – a promising area of investigation, with more data expected as research progresses. KCRA

BYU’s breakout year—and the bigger picture

BYU’s 2024 season speaks for itself: 11–2 overall, a 36–14 Alamo Bowl win over Colorado, and a No. 13 final AP ranking – the program’s best finish since 2020. While many factors drive on-field success, we’re proud that BYU leadership embraced emerging neuroscience alongside traditional training and recovery.

“After reviewing early photobiomodulation research led by Professor Lisa Wilde at the University of Utah’s Neurology Department, and working with our own performance research team led by Dr. Coleby Cloawson, we’ve seen compelling evidence – enough to include the Vielight Neuro Duo as standard equipment for our football team during the 2024 season.” — Tom Holmoe, 3x Super Bowl Champion and BYU Associate Athletic Director

What athletes are saying and seeing

Across our community of athletes and research participants, the most frequently reported or measured changes include:

Sharper mental speed and faster reaction time
Grip strength gains over a season
Better focus and energy
Early indicators consistent with reduced neuroinflammation under investigation

These themes mirror what KSL-TV previewed for BYU and what Utah researchers have discussed publicly about objective metrics improving with tPBM.

University of Utah diffusion-MRI (DTI) tractography maps show decreased inflammation-related diffusion markers with Vielight Neuro versus placebo

Our mission

Vielight exists to deliver non-invasive, drug-free neurotechnology built on evidence-based innovation—so people can protect and enhance brain function, from recovery to performance.

A heartfelt thank you to Rico Petrini Jr. for sharing his journey; to the researchers at the University of Utah; and to the BYU program for helping pioneer the future of sports performance and brain health.

Notes & Disclosures

The Vielight Neuro is a wellness/consumer neurotechnology device. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Individual results vary.
Statements about performance, recovery, or inflammation relate to ongoing research and media reports; they should not be interpreted as medical claims.

Media & Press

For interviews, images, or technical background (including published neuromodulation data), please contact info@vielight.com. Key references include the Scientific Reports neuromodulation trial and University of Utah study information.

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Vielight Technology featured in the Wall Street Journal

Vielight Main — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:46:37 +0000

As neurotech research and innovation continues to advance, photobiomodulation (PBM) using infrared light shines through as a promising solution for athletic performance and general health. This week, the Wall Street Journal featured Vielight as a leader in this emerging field, with a well-researched story that touched on some applications for photobiomodulation among elite athletes and its potential for broader health benefits. Some of the highlights of the WSJ coverage included:

Photobiomodulation: The Science

At its core, photobiomodulation leverages specific wavelengths of red or near-infrared light of a sufficiently high power density (>75 mW/cm²) to promote healing and offer other benefits. Red light sits on the longer end of the visible light spectrum, between 630 and 700 nanometers, while near-infrared light lies in the invisible spectrum, with wavelengths ranging from 800 to 2,500 nanometers. The treatment is believed to work through mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, by triggering repair mechanisms and increasing blood flow to damaged areas, such as the brain.

One of the world’s leading researchers in the field, Dr. Margaret Naeser, a research professor of neurology at Boston University School of Medicine and researcher at the Boston VA Medical Center, provided background for the article, using Vielight neurotechnology in her study for TBI and CTE, citing how Photobiomodulation is believed to work through cell components known as mitochondria— our body’s battery packs that give us energy.” Dr. Naeser further explained that “red or near-infrared light at specific wavelengths can increase blood flow to the brain and help repair damaged cells.”

Early Origins in NASA Research

This technology isn’t new but has evolved over decades. Originally applied for stimulating hair growth in the early 1960s, NASA took interest in the 1980s to counter muscle atrophy in astronauts. Recent studies have broadened its application to include benefits like collagen growth, inflammation reduction, and even improved cognitive function.

Pro Sports Teams Are Paying Attention

A growing number of elite athletes are turning to photobiomodulation as a part of their training regimens. For instance, the NovoThor red-light therapy bed from Thor Photomedicine, retailing for a hefty $130,000, is utilized for 15-minute sessions to expedite recovery and enhance performance. Vielight offers a more portable solution: a headband-and-nose-clip combination that ranges from $1,800-$2,400. The device emits pulsed near-infrared light waves, targeted towards the brain via the nostril, to enhance performance and recovery.

Could ‘Photoceuticals’ be the Future?

Praveen Arany, an associate professor of oral biology at the University at Buffalo, cautions the rapid adoption of photobiomodulation for every conceivable application. He predicts that future advancements will likely see doctors prescribing “photoceuticals” in specific personalized doses, or light wavelengths, for particular periods to maximize the benefits.

As photobiomodulation techniques gain traction among elite athletes and medical researchers, the real promise lies in its potential application to the general population for improved health and longevity. Using the power of light, we are tapping into the body’s natural abilities to heal itself and tap into the next frontier in optimizing human health and performance.

Check out the WSJ article (subscription required): https://on.wsj.com/3RsZsUK

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Media Coverage – Vielight Inc