TTA Archives 2005-2012

TA readers who read yesterday’s announcement of the National Football League‘s $30 million donation to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) for brain injury research will recall that it follows last month’s less-publicized announcement of the joint US Army-NFL program [TA 3 August] on developing helmet sensors to report concussive events leading to possible brain trauma. For the NIH, which will oversee the independent program, this largest-ever donation by the NFL will initially seed a Sports and Health Research program and research on mild TBI. In discussion are accelerating the pace of discovery on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)–the result of repeated blows to the head; concussion management and treatment; and better understanding of the potential relationship between TBI and late-life neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease, to benefit both the general public and military members experiencing TBI. NIH annually spends $81 million on head injury research so this is a welcome 37% boost. But…there’s more. Part of the deal between the NFL and the Players Association is $100 million over 10 years for medical research, so this may just be the start given the nearly 3,400 former player lawsuits on concussion-related injuries. So if your technology can relate to TBI detection, minimization or rehabilitation, here is where you need to concentrate. NFL donating $30 million to NIH for brain injury research (Washington Post) NFL press release.