Foundation for the NIH Joins NIH in Seeking Proposals to Study Sports-Related Brain Injuries

Sports Health and Research Program a Partnership with NIH and NFL

Bethesda, MD (April 3, 2013)– The FNIH today announced that the Sports and Health Research Program (SHRP) is seeking NIH grant proposals from experts in the field to study the detection, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sports-related brain injuries. The SHRP — sponsored by the NFL in collaboration with the NIH and announced last September – is conducting research focused on the long-term health effect of injuries sustained by professional and amateur athletes in order to gain more insight into serious medical conditions that affect both athletes and the general public.

Through support from SHRP, the NIH is calling for the best and brightest scientists and physicians to conduct ground-breaking medical research to enhance our understanding of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other long-term effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and spinal cord injury.

“We are encouraged by the momentum the SHRP team is building in such a short time with the announcement of these pioneering new research initiatives,” said Maria Freire, Ph.D., President of the FNIH. “Thanks to the generosity of the NFL, the program will provide us with invaluable data and ultimately ways to prevent and treat injuries in ways that will benefit athletes and non-athletes alike.”

“The research and results generated by the SHRP will help medical professionals understand more about head injuries not only in athletes, but also in the general population. We are proud to be collaborating with the FNIH on this important work,” said Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner.

While the five-year-long, $30 million program is initially focusing on brain injury, especially in athletes and veterans, SHRP may eventually expand to encompass other sports-related issues such as chronic degenerative joint disease, the transition from acute to chronic pain, sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes, and heat and hydration-related illness and injury. The FNIH welcomes other donors, including additional sports organizations, to join the collaboration.

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NFL Health and Safety Update—April 3, 2013

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NFL Health and Safety Update—March 27, 2013

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NFL Health and Safety Update—March 20, 2013

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NFL Health and Safety Update—March 13, 2013

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NFL fans received note from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the Head Health Initiative with General Electric & Under Armour

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GE, NFL & Leading Healthcare Experts Team Up to Accelerate Concussion Research, Diagnosis & Treatment

$40 million research program aims to increase accuracy of traumatic brain injury diagnosis

GE, NFL, Under Armour also launch $20 million open innovation challenge to find and fund ideas to develop new solutions to diagnose and protect against traumatic brain injury

NEW YORK, March 11, 2013 – (NYSE: GE) – GE and the NFL today announced the Head Health Initiative, a four-year, $60 million collaboration to speed diagnosis and improve treatment for mild traumatic brain injury. The goal of the research and innovation program, guided by healthcare experts, is to improve the safety of athletes, members of the military and society overall.

The initiative includes a four-year, $40 million research and development program to evaluate and develop next generation imaging technologies to improve diagnosis that would allow for targeting treatment therapy for patients with mild traumatic brain injury. In addition the NFL, GE and Under Armour launched a two-year open innovation challenge to invest up to $20 million in research and technology to better understand, diagnose and protect against mild traumatic brain injury.

GE Chairman and CEO Jeff Immelt said, “GE is a leader in developing sophisticated diagnostic imaging technology, but for all the advances in science our knowledge of the brain is far behind that of nearly every other organ in the body. With this initiative, we will advance our research and apply our learning to sports-related concussions, brain injuries suffered by members of the military and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Advancing brain science will help families everywhere.”

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, “Jeff and I have had many conversations over the years about business and the game we both love – football. The future of our great game is bright. The NFL has made tremendous progress in making the game safer and more exciting. But we know we have more work to do. Our collaboration with GE and Under Armour and the launch of the innovation challenges puts us on an accelerated path to progress with experienced scientists, academics and entrepreneurs dedicated to developing game-changing technologies that will benefit athletes, the military and all members of society.”

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NFL Health and Safety Update—March 6, 2013

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NFL Health and Safety Update—February 27, 2013

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USA Football to Lead Player Safety on Youth Level Through Heads Up Football Program’s Master Trainers

USA Football, the national governing body of the sport in the United States, will conduct its first Heads Up Football Master Trainer workshop on March 2-3 in Indianapolis.

USA Football will instruct 21 Master Trainers, including some of the top high school football coaches in the nation as well as former NFL and college players. This group will then teach the Heads Up Football program to youth league leaders across the country.

Heads Up Football is a comprehensive approach to a better and safer game, encompassing USA Football’s accredited Level 1 Coach Certification Course, Heads Up Tackling techniques, educating leagues on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concussion recognition and response protocols and instructing on proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting. USA Football’s Master Trainers bring a wealth of experience and success – including a combined 26 high school state championships – to the position.

After completing the USA Football workshop, Master Trainers will instruct youth leagues in their regions on Heads Up Football, educating youth league-appointed Player Safety Coaches who will oversee their leagues’ implementation of the highest national coaching standards for youth football. These standards include league-wide completion of the Level 1 Coach Certification Course as well as conducting a Heads Up Football Coaches Clinic and a Heads Up Safety Clinic for parents and players within their leagues. Player Safety Coaches also will monitor their leagues’ practices and games throughout the season.

“Heads Up Football promotes a safer, better game,” USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said. “We are proud to have this group assist us in leading America’s youth football community as Heads Up Football Master Trainers, helping to set the highest standards of player safety and coaching education in any youth sport.”

“Youth leagues have a tremendous opportunity in 2013 to adopt USA Football’s Heads Up Football program,” Cincinnati Bengals head coach MARVIN LEWIS said. “USA Football has earned my trust – they put the safety of our kids first and offer the training youth coaches need to be exceptional teachers.

“All of us in the football community, at each level of the game, need to be committed to raising youth football’s standards, and Heads Up Football does that.”

Adds New York Giants head coach TOM COUGHLIN: “USA Football is establishing a set of standards by which a person becomes certified to coach, and I endorse that 100 percent. Only allow your child to play when you know that USA Football certification is there for the coach and you know that your child is being taught the proper fundamentals of the game and that real intelligence has gone into the preparation of practices.”

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