(Boston) – Canada’s TSN (The Sports Network) hosted the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF)’s Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO for their football broadcast team in September 2022, becoming one of the first major sports outlets to offer the training. TSN hosted the Workshop for their on-air and production teams who cover the NFL and CFL. TSN is the second sports media organization in the world and first Canadian media organization to offer the Workshop PRO. The Workshop PRO is part of the CLF Media Project, the first and only concussion education program designed specifically for sports media members.

“We are always looking to augment our reporting on key issues in the world of sports, and the CLF’s Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO was a valuable resource for our football production teams,” said Ken Volden, Executive Producer, TSN. “Concussions are an extremely significant issue impacting many sports, and the workshop improved our ability to educate fans and keep them informed on the most up-to-date recommendations. We look forward to participating in additional workshops with CLF in the future.”

CLF presented to a group of TSN’s football play-by-play voices, game analysts, and production team members. During the hour-long session, CLF’s education programs manager Brandon Boyd explained the basics of concussion and outlined CLF’s concussion reporting recommendations.

“TSN is the leader in sports coverage in Canada,” said Tim Fleiszer, Executive Director of Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada. “TSN providing this training for their football broadcast team shows their commitment to accurate, informative concussion reporting. The millions of Canadians who tune in to TSN’s football coverage are now in a better position to learn critically important information about concussion and concussion management.”

CLF launched the Media Project in 2018 with the help of sports media veterans J.A. Adande, Bob Costas, Andrea Kremer, and Olivia Stomski, who now serve as advisors for the program.

The Media Project includes three parts: A Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO for sports media outlets such as TSN, a Concussion Reporting Workshop U for sports journalism students, and the Concussion Reporting Certification for sports media professionals. BT Sport hosted the first Workshop PRO sessions for their boxing, cricket, soccer, and rugby broadcast teams in March 2022. The Workshop U has been taught at 26 of the top journalism programs across the globe like Northwestern University, the University of Missouri, Syracuse University, and Arizona State University. Nearly 150 sports media professionals, including TSN’s Bob McKenzie and Dave Jamieson, are Concussion Reporting Certified.

Sports leagues and sports media outlets interested in offering a Concussion Reporting Workshop PRO to their staffs can learn more here and contact Brandon Boyd at [email protected]. Sports media professional interested in becoming Concussion Reporting Certified can take the certification quiz here.

To Whom it May Concern:

As scientists, physicians, researchers, and public health experts, we believe the relationship between repetitive head impacts (RHI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) should no longer be referred to as an ‘association’. Rather, we believe that the available evidence demands the relationship between RHI and CTE should only be described as causal.

We respectfully request your organization update all position papers and public-facing statements to reflect the current scientific understanding in an urgent effort to educate the public.

As you consider this request, we ask that you review a recently published analysis of the evidence for RHI causality in CTE using the Bradford Hill criteria. The Hill criteria were created specifically to provide a methodology for reviewing epidemiologic research to determine when it is appropriate to move from labeling an observed relationship as an association to causation.

The review, entitled Applying the Bradford Hill Criteria for Causation to Repetitive Head Impacts and CTE, was published Frontiers in Neurology on July 22. The evidence for causation has strengthened considerably in the last few years, specifically in strength of association, biological gradient, consistency, plausibility, and coherence.

The authors conclude that the evidence in favor of RHI as a causal pathway leading to CTE is compelling enough to move from “association” to “causation.” We agree with this conclusion, and we support creating policies to prevent CTE in the next generation of contact sport athletes and others exposed to repetitive head impacts.

We recognize that RHI may someday be found to not be the only risk factor or precipitant to CTE, as many diseases have multiple causes. However, it is time to publicly acknowledge that RHI is a causative factor which can lead to CTE.

In August, we petitioned the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) to review this evidence and update their statement on causation. On October 5, 2022, NINDS updated their official statement on CTE to “CTE is a delayed neurodegenerative disorder that was initially identified in postmortem brains and, research-to-date suggests, is caused in part by repeated traumatic brain injuries.”

To many, this is not new information. The idea that boxing causes progressive neurodegeneration has been widely accepted for nearly a century. In 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a fact sheet, stating, “The research to-date suggests that CTE is caused in part by repeated traumatic brain injuries, including concussions, and repeated hits to the head, called subconcussive head impacts.”

Besides NINDS and CDC, organizations that now utilize or publicly support causation language include the NFL in the United States, the National Health Service, Football Association, and Professional Footballer’s Association in the United Kingdom, and the Australian Football League.

We have created an online dashboard listing organizations that recognize the role of RHI and rTBI in CTE causation, and we also list organizations that explicitly do not or have not made public statements. Please let us know if we do not have your organization listed appropriately.

We look forward to your response and are available individually or as a group to respond to any questions you may have.

Signed,

Mike Alosco, PhD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Co-director, Alzheimer’s Disease Center Clinical Research Core
Principal Investigator, CTE Center
Boston University School of Medicine

Breton Asken, PhD, ATC
Assistant Professor
Department of Clinical and Health Technology
University of Florida
Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases

Rhoda Au, PhD
Professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Neurology and Epidemiology
Boston University Schools of Medicine and Public Health

Kathleen Bachynski, PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor of Public Health
Muhlenberg College

Kevin Bieniek, PhD
Director, Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer’s & Neurodegenerative Diseases Brain Bank
Neuropathology Core Leader, South Texas Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Charles Bernick, MD, MPH
Clinical Professor of Neurology
University of Washington

Yelena Bogdanova, PhD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Boston University School of Medicine

Michael Buckland, MBBS, PhD, FRCPA, FFSc (RCPA)
Clinical Associate Professor of Pathology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney
Head of the Department of Neuropathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
Founding & Executive Director, Australian Sports Brain Bank

Samantha Bureau, PhD
Director of Programs
Concussion Legacy Foundation

Robert Cantu, MD, MA, FACS, FAANS, FICS, FACSM
Clinical Professor of Neurology
Boston University School of Medicine

Stephen T. Casper, PhD
Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences
Clarkson University

David X. Cifu, MD
Associate Dean of Innovation and System Integration and Eminent Scholar
Herman J. Flax, MD Professor and Chair, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Senior Consultant, Sheltering Arms Institute
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Senior TBI Specialist, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Principal Investigator, Long-term Impact of Military-relevant Brain Injury Consortium Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (LIMBIC-CENC)

John F. Crary, MD, PhD
Professor
Director, Neuropathology Brain Bank & Research Core
Director, Physician Scientist Track in Experimental Pathology
Department of Pathology
Nash Family Department of Neuroscience
Department of Artificial Intelligence & Human Health
Friedman Brain Institute
Ronald M. Loeb Center for Alzheimer’s Disease
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Jeffrey L. Cummings, MD, ScD
Joy Chambers-Grundy Professor of Brain Science
Director, Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience
Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences
University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV)

Maurice Curtis, PhD
Professor of Neuroscience
Head of Department, Anatomy and Medical Imaging
Co-Director of the Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank
The University of Auckland

Daniel Daneshvar, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor
Assistant Chair for Research, Department of PM&R
Harvard Medical School

Steven T. DeKosky, MD, FACP, FANA, FAAN
Deputy Director, McKnight Brain Institute
Aerts-Cosper Professor of Alzheimer’s Research
Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience
Associate Director, 1Florida ADRC
University of Florida

Marc Diamond, MD
Director, Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience
Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute
University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center

Ramon R. Diaz-Arrastia, MD, PhD
Director of Traumatic Brain Injury Clinical Research Center
Associate Director for Clinical Research, Center for Neurodegeneration and Repair
John McCrea Dickson M.D. Presidential Professor
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Dennis W. Dickson, MD
Robert E. Jacoby Professor of Alzheimer’s Research
Neuropathology and Microscopy Laboratory
Mayo Clinic

David W. Dodick, MD
Professor Emeritus/Founder/Director of Sport Neurology & Concussion Program, Mayo Clinic Arizona
Chair, International Concussion Society
Chair, American Brain Foundation
Chief Science Officer, Atria Institute
Chair, Atria Academy of Science and Medicine
Affiliate Professor, University of Copenhagen
Adjunct Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Margaret Esiri, DM, FRCPath
Emeritus Professor of Neuropathology, Oxford University

Sir Richard Faull, MBCHB, DSc, KNZM, FRSNZ
University Distinguished Professor
Director, Centre for Brain Research
Founder and Director, Neurological Foundation Human Brain Bank
The University of Auckland

Adam M. Finkel, ScD, CIH
Clinical Professor of Environmental Health Sciences
University of Michigan School of Public Health
Director of Health Standards, US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 1995-2000

Sam Gandy, MD, PhD
Mount Sinai Endowed Chair in Alzheimer’s Disease Research
Professor of Neurology and of Psychiatry
Director, Mount Sinai Center for Wellness and Cognitive Health
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Lee E. Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Psychiatry Radiology, Neurology, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Boston University School of Medicine & College of Engineering
Co-Leader, Biomarker Core, Boston University Alzheimer Disease and CTE Center

Michael J. Grey, PhD
Reader in Rehabilitation Neuroscience, University of East Anglia

Lea T. Grinberg, MD, PhD
John Douglas French Alzheimer’s Foundation Endowed Professor
Professor in Residence – Departments of Neurology and Pathology
Co-leader, Memory and Aging Center, Neurodegenerative Disease Brain Bank
Global Brain Health Institute, Faculty and Member of the Executive Committee
Institute of Computational Health Sciences, Faculty, UCSF

Elisa Hill-Yardin, PhD
Associate Professor
School of Health and Biomedical Sciences
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Sidney R. Hinds II, MD, FAAN
COL (retired), United States Army
Assistant Professor, Neurology/Radiology
Uniformed Services University
Co-PI & Lead, External Collaborations,
Long-term Impact of Military-relevant Brain Injury Consortium-Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium (LIMBIC-CENC)

Kenneth S. Kosik, MD
Hariman Distinguished Professor of Neuroscience
Co-Director, Neuroscience Research Institute
Santa Barbara, CA

Chester Mathis, PhD
Distinguished Professor of Radiology
University of Pittsburgh
UPMC Endowed Chair of PET Research

Ann McKee, MD
William Fairfield Warren Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Pathology
Boston University School Medicine
Director, BU CTE Center
Chief, Neuropathology VA Boston

Jesse Mez, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology
Co-director, Alzheimer’s Disease Center Clinical Research Core
Boston University School of Medicine

Michael D. McClean, ScD
Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Advancement
Professor of Environmental Health
Boston University School of Public Health

Bruce Miller, MD
A.W. and Mary Margaret Clausen Distinguished Professor in Neurology
Director, Memory and Aging Center
Co-Director, Global Brain Health Institute
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Helen Murray, PhD
Research Fellow, Centre for Brain Research
Department of Anatomy and Medical Imaging
The University of Auckland

Christopher Nowinski, PhD
CEO, Concussion Legacy Foundation
Executive Committee, Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center

Alan Pearce, PhD
Research Manager, Australian Sports Brain Bank (Victoria)
Adjunct Associate Professor
School of Allied Heath, Human Services & Sport
La Trobe University

Gil Rabinovici, MD
Edward Fein & Pearl Landrith Distinguished Professor
Director, UCSF Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Departments of Neurology, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

Philip Schatz, Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Saint Joseph’s University

Julie Stamm, PhD, ATC
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Kinesiology, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Judith A. Steen, PhD
Director of the Neuroproteomics Laboratory | Associate Professor
Boston Children’s Hospital | Harvard Medical School

Thor D. Stein, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
Co-Leader of the Neuropathology Core
Boston University Alzheimer Disease and CTE Center
Boston University School of Medicine

Robert Stern, PhD
Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy & Neurobiology
Director of Clinical Research, BU CTE Center
Senior Investigator, BU Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center
Boston University School of Medicine

Michael J. Stuart, MD
Professor, Department of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine
Mayo Clinic

Catherine Suter, PhD
Chief Scientist, Australia Sports Brain Bank
Department of Neuropathology at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital
School of Medical Sciences, University of Sydney

Carmela Tartaglia, MD, FRCPC
Marion and Gerald Soloway Chair in Brain Injury and Concussion Research
Associate Professor, Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto
Co-director Memory Clinic – Toronto Western Hospital
Director Memory Clinical Trials Unit

Charles H. Tator, OC, MD, PhD, FRCSC, FACS
Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto
Founder, ThinkFirst Canada and Parachute Canada
Director, Canadian Concussion Centre

Neil Vasdev, PhD ACSF, FRSC (UK), FSNMMI
Canada Research Chair in Radiochemistry and Nuclear Medicine
Azrieli Endowed Chair in Brain and Behaviour
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Associate Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School
Director, Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health (CAMH)
Director & Chief Radiochemist, CAMH Brain Health Imaging Centre

Jennifer Weuve, MPH, ScD
Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology
Boston University School of Public Health

Adam White, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Sport & Coaching Sciences
Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work
Oxford Brookes University

Kristine Yaffe, MD
Professor of Psychiatry, Neurology and Epidemiology, Psychiatry
University of California San Francisco School of Medicine
Weill Institute for Neurosciences
Roy and Marie Scola Endowed Chair
Vice Chair of Research in Psychiatry

Concussion Legacy Foundation to launch Stop Hitting Kids in the Head campaign, new international chapter in Australia

(Sydney) – International experts in brain trauma research are calling for all global sports to eliminate repetitive head impacts under the age of 14 to prevent the neurodegenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and protect children from the worst outcomes of concussions. Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) co-founder and CEO Dr. Chris Nowinski will announce the Stop Hitting Kids in the Head campaign tonight during the CLF Australia launch event in Sydney alongside families of those impacted, and former professional athletes who are pushing to make sports safer.

“Working on the ‘Head Noise’ podcast, I learned without question that CTE is such a serious issue,” said James Graham, NRL legend and CLF Australia board member. “We need to have a conversation about at what age kids start tackling and become at risk for CTE.”

“Now that we have no doubt CTE is caused by repetitive head impacts in sports, it’s time to protect children,” said Dr. Chris Nowinski, CLF CEO and a board member of CLF Australia. “The idea that children playing sports are being exposed to a life-long degenerative brain disease is simply not acceptable anywhere in the world, especially when the solution is so simple: Stop Hitting Kids in the Head.”

The goal of the Stop Hitting Kids in the Head campaign is to eliminate repetitive head impacts in youth sports by 2026, especially focused on soccer, American football, Canadian football, Australian football, and rugby. The research is clear – not only do repetitive head impacts cause CTE but suffering a concussion in youth sports increases risk for mental health disorders and suicide.

“CTE is the only neurodegenerative disease we can almost entirely prevent,” said Dr. Michael Buckland, executive director of the Australian Sports Brain Bank, who will also be a CLF Australia board member. “We must now mobilise to make reforms to keep our athletes, especially our children, safe. I’ve seen how this disease can ruin lives and devastate families. It’s time for the global community to act to stop future suffering.”

CLF Australia is committed to accelerating brain bank and clinical research to better understand novel mental health disorders after concussion and learn how to diagnose CTE in the living by recruiting former contact sport athletes to pledge to donate their brain to the ASBB and join the CLF Research Registry. All athletes are encouraged to sign up at brainbank.org.au.

CLF Australia joins international chapters in the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada.

MEDIA AT THE SYNDEY LAUNCH EVENT:

There will be a livestream of the launch event tonight in Sydney. The livestream will begin at 4:00 p.m. and can be viewed at: https://slhd.zoom.us/j/62060582017

Speakers include: James Graham, Peter FitzSimons, Dr. Alan Pearce, Dr. Chris Nowinski, Dr. Michael Buckland, Jamie Shine, Natalie Foley, Hayley Folkes-Shaw, Kathy Strong, Enid Taylor and Jen Masters.

Concussion Legacy Foundation announces launch of new chapter in Australia to support patients and families, independent concussion and CTE research

(Melbourne) – Leading international concussion and CTE researchers are warning Australians today of an impending chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) crisis and urging parents, coaches, and sports organizations to take the effects of repetitive head trauma seriously. Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) co-founder and CEO Dr. Chris Nowinski will announce the launch of the newest international chapter of the organization, CLF Australia, tonight in Melbourne alongside families of those impacted, and former professional athletes who are pushing for change.

“I’m worried about what might happen to my brain as I get older, and I’m worried about my mates,” said Joey Didulica, a former Australian and Croatian national soccer team player. “It’s time to share the truth about brain disorders we may face from concussions and repeated head impacts, create solutions, and support those struggling.”

“I’m concerned about what is being said to the Australian public about the long-term effects of head knocks, especially CTE,” said Dr. Chris Nowinski, Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO and a board member of CLF Australia. “We’ve proven CTE is here in the Australian codes, we know it’s caused by repetitive head impacts, and now it’s time to act to save the lives of people we care about, from our sports heroes to our kids.”

Australian Sports Brain Bank founder and director Dr. Michael Buckland, Nowinski, and CLF Australia board member Dr. Alan Pearce coauthored a recent article in Frontiers in Neurology finding conclusively that CTE can be caused by repetitive head impacts.

“Australian families have suffered greatly to give us the evidence that shows beyond any reasonable doubt that CTE is caused by repetitive head impacts like those that occur in sporting codes,” said Buckland, who will also be a CLF Australia board member. “We must now mobilize to support families affected by CTE, as well as prevent CTE in athletes, especially children.”

CLF Australia will be under the leadership of Annitta Siliato, the sister of Paul Wheatley, a former AFL player who developed epilepsy after multiple concussions during his career and now struggles with memory impairment.

“Concussion in sports is so much bigger than you think, and the devastating impact it has on athletes and their entire families is very real.” said Siliato. “There are countless families suffering right now and we want them to know CLF Australia is here to support them.”

Symptoms of CTE include cognitive disorders like short-term memory loss, impaired judgment, and dementia. Among athletes confirmed to have died with CTE, symptoms like aggression, mood swings, depression, paranoia, impulse control problems, and substance abuse disorders are prevalent. CLF is launching the CLF HelpLine in Australia to support families battling concussion or CTE symptoms. The HelpLine provides personalized resources, treatment recommendations and peer support for patients and families effected by brain trauma.

CLF Australia is committed to accelerating brain bank and clinical research by recruiting former contact sport athletes to pledge to donate their brain to CTE research at the Australian Sports Brain Bank and join the CLF Research Registry so experts can better learn how to diagnose and treat the effects of brain trauma. All athletes are encouraged to sign up at brainbank.org.au.

MEDIA AVAILABILITY:

Media members are welcome to attend the CLF Australia launch event in Melbourne on Monday 5 September. Expert, athlete, and family presentations begin at 4:00 p.m. at RMIT University Swanston Academic Building 80. Cocktail reception to follow at The Oxford Scholar Hotel.

Additional speakers include: Dr. Alan Pearce, Jamie Shine, Joe Williams, and Anita Frawley.

If you’re interested in coordinating interviews before the event, please contact Julia Manning at [email protected]

Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada, CAMH Brain Health Imaging Centre, and Anthem Sports & Entertainment partner to encourage Veterans and CAF personnel to pledge to donate their brains, participate in research

(Toronto) The NHL’s second leading scorer, Jonathan Huberdeau, former astronaut Marc Garneau, All-Ivy hockey star, Kalley Armstrong, and Major General (retired) Denis Thompson, have joined 170 Canadian Armed Forces members and Veterans in pledging to donate their brains to Project Enlist Canada for research on brain injuries.

“As an NHL player, I’m very aware of the impact of traumatic brain injuries, concussions and the link to other mental health issues,” said Jonathan Huberdeau, Calgary Flames forward. “I’m proud to support Canadian military veterans by pledging to donate my brain to Project Enlist and support research to improve the quality of life of all military personnel who so bravely and courageously served our country.”

Project Enlist is the Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada (CLFC)’s program which aims to serve as a catalyst for research on traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in military Veterans to help researchers and clinicians learn how to better treat and diagnose the signature wound of war.

“Concussions ended my hockey career, but I have been able to recover. Other are not so lucky,” said Kalley Armstrong, former Harvard Hockey captain. “It is important all Canadians understand that mental health issues can result from brain injuries and research will lead to new treatments. I am proud to support Canadian military members in pledging my brain to Project Enlist Canada.”

To encourage other veterans to pledge, CLFC, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) Brain Health Imaging Centre and Anthem Sports & Entertainment have created a Public Service Announcement for Project Enlist. In the PSA, and this feature video, Master Warrant Officer Brendan Hynes shares the powerful story of how suffering multiple traumatic brain injuries serving in the Canadian Forces impacted his life and caused suicidal ideation.

CAF members and Veterans can join Master Warrant Officer Hynes and pledge to donate their brains at projectenlist.ca.

CLFC recently forged a partnership with the CAMH Brain Health Imaging Centre to conduct research on brain tissue donated to CLFC. This partnership will significantly expand research on a number of brain injuries among Canada’s military personnel.

CLFC has also sent a Letter of Intent seeking a federal support to help Canada become the global leader in understanding and addressing the effects of traumatic brain injuries on military personnel and achieving gender equity in military brain research.

Additional Quotes

“Brain injuries appear to play a significant role in the mental health challenges of Canada’s military personnel. Project Enlist aims to better understand the relationship between the traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and mental health. Our soldiers courageously put their lives on the line to protect us. Now, it is our turn to help them live their best lives.” – Tim Fleiszer, Executive Director of Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada

“We are excited about the unprecedented partnership between the CAMH Brain Health Imaging Centre and CLFC. We are already working together to access post-mortem brain tissue from professional athletes for imaging studies. We will now also carry out cutting-edge brain imaging studies in Canadians living with CTE to improve diagnosis and treatment strategies.” – Dr. Neil Vasdev, Director of the Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry & the Brain Health Imaging Centre at CAMH

“Even though I served in the military and played college football for several years, I didn’t know much until recently, about the risk of long-term effects from repetitive head impacts. I knew that getting a concussion required you to take some time off to recover but knew almost nothing about CTE and the symptoms one can experience years after the hits stop. More research is urgently required on brain injury, and I’m pleased to contribute to this research” – Marc Garneau, Member of Parliament

“Anthem Sports and Entertainment is proud to be able to use its media platforms to support the important efforts of the CLFC and CAMH,” says Leonard Asper, CEO of Anthem Sports and Entertainment. “We stand alongside so many brave people who are affected by brain injuries; no matter the cause. We just knew Anthem had do its part to help share this message of courage, hope and education for such a critical issue.” – Len Asper, CEO of Anthem Sports & Entertainment

“I am all about the science. I have learned so much and encourage all military service members to educate themselves, pledge to donate their brains and seek assistance through the HelpLine, if they are suffering.” – Bruno Guevremont, Former paratrooper and diver

“The cumulative effects of mTBI are just beginning to be understood in sport. The similarity of sport to military service is striking, however, substantive research on the military members is nascent. Signing up for Project Enlist Canada will help close this knowledge gap.” – Denis Thompson, Maj Gen (retired), Canadian Armed Forces

“Despite my background in professional football and my service in Afghanistan, once I was diagnosed with PTSD, not a single one of the almost two dozen health caregivers asked me about my history of head injuries” – Ryan Carey, Canadian Veteran

About Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada

The Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada was founded in December of 2012 by four-time Grey Cup champion, Tim Fleiszer, to help solve the concussion crisis in Canada. Since that time, CLF Canada has operated prevention, education and awareness events across the country, reaching more than 25,000 Canadians in-person and hundreds of thousands of Canadians digitally. CLF Canada received its charitable status in 2014.

With chapters now in the United Kingdom, and the United States, Robert Cantu, MD, and Chris Nowinski, PhD, founded Concussion Legacy Foundation to support athletes, Veterans, and all affected by concussions and CTE; achieve smarter sports and safer athletes through education and innovation; and to End CTE through prevention and research in 2007.

About the CAMH Brain Health Imaging Centre

The CAMH Brain Health Imaging Centre research focuses on developing new imaging techniques to better understand various brain-based illnesses. The Centre is currently investigating the causes of several mental illness and injuries, including Alzheimer’s disease; traumatic brain injuries; and brain inflammation in mental illnesses. Several of the imaging techniques and methodologies developed at CAMH are in use worldwide, including CAMH-developed compounds used for first-in-human neuroimaging studies.

Dr. Neil Vasdev is the Director of the Brain Health Imaging Centre at CAMH. He is also the Director of the Azrieli Centre for Neuro-Radiochemistry and serves as the Chief Radiochemist at CAMH. He is the endowed Azrieli Chair in Brain and Behaviour, and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Radiochemistry and Nuclear Medicine, and Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto.
Press Release

Sports organizations must acknowledge that head impacts cause CTE to protect children

(Boston) – A new analysis by leading international experts on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) found conclusive evidence that repetitive head impacts (RHI) cause the degenerative brain disease CTE.

The researchers from Harvard University, Boston University, University of Sydney (Australia), University of Auckland (New Zealand), University of Michigan, University of California-San Francisco, University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), University of Melbourne (Australia), Oxford Brookes University (UK) and the Concussion Legacy Foundation are issuing a global call to action to sports organizations, government officials, and parents to immediately implement CTE prevention and mitigation efforts, especially for children.

The researchers analyzed the data through the “Bradford Hill criteria”, a trusted set of nine benchmarks developed by one of the pioneers of smoking and lung cancer research to gauge the confidence science can place in a causal relationship between an environmental exposure and an adverse health outcome.

Among the revelations in the analysis, the authors discovered that the brain banks of the US Department of Defense, Boston University-US Department of Veterans Affairs, and Mayo Clinic have all published independent studies on distinct populations showing contact sport athletes were at least 68 times more likely to develop CTE than those who did not play contact sports. This incredible strength of association, combined with robust evidence in all nine benchmarks, is conclusive evidence of causation.

“This innovative analysis gives us the highest scientific confidence that repeated head impacts cause CTE,” said study lead author Dr. Chris Nowinski, Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO. “Sport governing bodies should acknowledge that head impacts cause CTE and they should not mislead the public on CTE causation while athletes die, and families are destroyed, by this terrible disease.”

The most studied causes of CTE are contact and collision sports, which include soccer, rugby, boxing, American football, Canadian football, and Australian rules football. The study authors are concerned parents and coaches, who have the most control over whether children are exposed to repetitive head impacts, are not getting the facts from global sports organizations, and are exposing their children to preventable cases of CTE.

While both the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Football League (NFL) acknowledge a causal relationship between repetitive head impacts and CTE, global sporting organizations including Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), World Rugby, International Olympic Committee (IOC), National Hockey League (NHL), Canadian Football League (CFL), National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Australian Football League (AFL), National Rugby League (NRL) and New Zealand Rugby thus far have refused to publicly acknowledge a causal relationship.

Researchers say it is the duty of these organizations to inform athletes and their families and take appropriate steps toward CTE prevention and mitigation. Many of the organizations, including the NFL, spend millions of dollars a year recruiting athletes, including children, without disclosing the risk of CTE.

“This analysis shows it is time to include repetitive head impacts and CTE among child protection efforts like exposure to lead, mercury, smoking, and sunburns,” said Dr. Adam Finkel, Clinical Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and a former Director of Health Standards, US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). “Repetitive head impacts and CTE deserve recognition in the global public health discussion of preventable disorders caused by childhood exposures.”

CTE can only be definitively diagnosed through a post-mortem examination of the brain. Scientists don’t yet know how many athletes, military Veterans, and others exposed to head impacts have CTE, but knowing the prevalence of a disease is not required to enact disease prevention efforts, especially as the global scientific community closes in on 1,000 CTE cases diagnosed worldwide in the last decade.

“Even we were surprised by how strong the causal relationship between repetitive head impacts and CTE becomes when the data are analyzed within the appropriate framework and in an unbiased manner,” said study co-senior author Dr. Robert Cantu Concussion Legacy Foundation medical director. “Scientists and policymakers must retire the word association and begin using causation in all forums in an urgent effort to educate the public.”

The authors urge governments to support CTE research and prevention efforts since CTE is associated with developing dementia, which comes with extraordinary healthcare costs.

The research paper, Applying the Bradford Hill Criteria for Causation to Repetitive Head Impacts and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, is published in Frontiers in Neurology, and can be viewed online.

Dr. Nowinski and Dr. Finkel answered some of the most frequently asked questions about CTE causation, read their blog here.

Hall of Famer calls for increased support for former players, heading ban until age 14

(BOSTON) – National Soccer Hall of Famer Bruce Murray, 56, revealed today to CBS News he is struggling with cognitive impairment and behavior changes consistent with what is seen in individuals diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after death. He and his wife Lynn Murray are going public with their struggles to help others suffering know they are not alone, and to raise awareness about the dangers of repetitive heading in soccer.

Murray was the all-time leading scorer in U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) history when a concussion forced him to retire in 1995. He was a key member of the 1988 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team and the 1990 U.S. World Cup Team and is known for his spectacular ability to score off headers. He has been experiencing progressive neurological symptoms for the last decade.

“My symptoms started with what I thought was normal forgetfulness but have gotten to the point where I’ve left my car running with the keys inside several times in one day,” Murray said. “I’m fearful there’s now a very real chance I’ll leave my children in the backseat and forget them too.”

Murray is speaking out just one week after the family of former USMNT and MLS player Scott Vermillion announced his stage 2 CTE diagnosis by Dr. Ann McKee at the Boston University CTE Center. Vermillion is the first former MLS player diagnosed with the disease.

“We appreciate Bruce and Lynn Murray’s courage in sharing their diagnosis and encourage the many other former players we know are struggling to reach out to the Concussion Legacy Foundation HelpLine for support,” said Dr. Chris Nowinski, CLF co-founder and CEO. “Thanks to the Murray and Vermillion families, we can learn from the mistakes of the past to change the future for the millions of children still heading soccer balls with no idea that it could lead to CTE.”

A dementia crisis tied to repetitive heading has been discovered among professional soccer players in the United Kingdom, as dozens of former players and families have revealed debilitating symptoms in the last few years. A 2019 University of Glasgow study found former professional Scottish soccer players were 3.5 times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases than the general population. A follow-up study in 2021 found the only position that didn’t have an increased risk of brain diseases was goalie, isolating repetitive heading as the most likely cause.

Bruce Murray supports CLF’s Safer Soccer campaign, which launched in 2014 alongside USWNT legends Brandi Chastain, Cindy Parlow Cone, and Taylor Twellman, to educate parents, coaches, and soccer stakeholders on the benefits of delaying headers in youth soccer until high school. Murray is now reigniting the call on U.S. Soccer to raise the ban on heading in the youth game until at least age 14 and accelerate efforts to minimize lifelong exposure to headers in older players.

“There is absolutely no reason for these kids to be heading the ball hundreds of times in a season,” said Murray, a former Harvard University men’s soccer coach. “I feel a responsibility to speak up and make sure nobody else has to go through what I’m experiencing.”

Former players and their families battling concussion or suspected CTE symptoms can reach out to The Concussion Legacy Foundation HelpLine at CLFHelpline.org.

To accelerate research on CTE diagnosis and treatment, CLF encourages former soccer players over the age of 40, who played at any level, to enroll in the online Head Impact & Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS) at HITSS.org. The study is open to both men and women and led by researchers at Boston University and the University of California San Francisco.

About Bruce Murray

Bruce Murray was an essential part of U.S. Men’s National Team from 1985 to 1993. When he retired, he was the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. Men’s National Team. Murray was a member of the 1988 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team and the 1990 U.S. World Cup Team, where he was the only American to score and assist a goal. Murray played professionally for nine years, including two seasons in the English Premier League for Millwall. Murray won two National Championships at Clemson University and earned the Hermann Trophy, awarded to college soccer’s top player. Murray was inducted into the Clemson Hall of Fame in 1993 and elected to The National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2011.

Press Release

(Boston) – The family of Demaryius Thomas is announcing today that Boston University CTE Center researchers diagnosed the former NFL wide receiver with stage 2 (of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Thomas died in December 2021 at the age of 33. His family is releasing the findings of his brain study through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF), which arranged the brain donation, to help raise awareness of CTE and encourage the football community to support research.

“Once I became aware of CTE and began to familiarize myself with the symptoms, I noticed that Demaryius was isolating himself and I saw other changes in him,” said Katina Smith, Demaryius’ mother. “He was just so young, and it was horrible to see him struggle. His father and I hope all families learn the risks of playing football. We don’t want other parents to have to lose their children like we did.”

Stage 2 CTE is associated with progressive behavior, cognitive and mood abnormalities. In the years before he died, Thomas developed depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and trouble with his memory. Stage 4 is the most severe stage of CTE and is usually associated with dementia.

“Like so many that have gone before, we found stage 2 CTE in the brain of Demaryius Thomas. The question I keep asking myself is ‘When will enough be enough?’ When will athletes, parents and the public at large stop ignoring the risks of American football and insist that the game be changed to reduce subconcussive hits and that the athletes be comprehensively evaluated at the beginning and end of every season?” said Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the BU CTE Center and VA-BU-CLF/UNITE Brain Bank.

Concussion Legacy Foundation CEO and co-founder Dr. Chris Nowinski reached out to the Thomas family to propose the CTE study. Bobby Thomas, Demaryius’ father, alongside Katina Smith graciously agreed to make the donation to learn more about why their son changed, and to help others.

“The football community would have no idea why so many former players struggle with neurological disorders after their career without the families who say yes to brain donation, so I want to thank Bobby Thomas and Katina Smith – and all families – for their trust in Dr. McKee and this team,” said Dr. Nowinski, a former football player at Harvard University. “I hope this is a wake-up call to high profile current and former NFL players that CTE is rampant among them, and they need to get involved in creating real solutions. CTE should be their number one off-the-field issue.”

Thomas played 10 seasons in the NFL for the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, and Houston Texans, making four Pro Bowl rosters, and winning Super Bowl 50 with the Denver Broncos. Thomas was the 22nd pick in the first round of the 2010 draft out of Georgia Tech, and in all played 16 years of tackle football before announcing his retirement at age 33 in 2021, six months before his death. His cause of death has not yet been reported.

There has been speculation his death may be related to an epileptic seizure. Although late-stage CTE can be associated with epilepsy, it is far more likely that he developed post-traumatic epilepsy after a motor vehicle accident and fall he experienced several years before his death.

Thomas is one of more than 300 former NFL players who have been diagnosed with CTE by Dr. McKee and the BU CTE Center research team.

Former and current NFL players and their families worried about possible CTE symptoms can reach out to the Concussion Legacy Foundation HelpLine for support at CLFHelpline.org. The HelpLine staff provides personalized resources and recommendations for treatment.

BU CTE Center researchers found Scott Vermillion had stage 2 CTE when he died at age 44

(Boston) – The family of Scott Vermillion, a former professional Major League Soccer (MLS) player, is announcing today that Boston University CTE Center researchers diagnosed him with stage 2 (of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Vermillion died by an accidental overdose in December 2020 at the age of 44. His family is releasing the findings of his brain study through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) to help raise awareness of CTE in soccer.

“This disease destroys families, and not just football families,” said Dave Vermillion, Scott’s father. “We want others to realize this can happen to anyone who is exposed to repetitive head trauma because we didn’t even consider CTE when my son was struggling. He started withdrawing from his friends and family and we knew there was something going on, but we didn’t know what. We hope this will be a wakeup call to the soccer community to support former players and get them the help they need, so some good can come from this tragedy.”

While in his late 20s, Vermillion developed impulse control issues, aggression, depression, and anxiety which slowly worsened. He later developed apathy, substance abuse, social withdrawal, and memory loss.

“We learn more about CTE and the dangers of repetitive head trauma with every brain that is donated to our center,” said Dr. Ann McKee, chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System and director of the BU CTE Center and VA-BU-CLF/UNITE Brain Bank. “Mr. Vermillion has shown us that soccer players are at risk for CTE. We need to make every effort to identify players who are suffering and provide them compassionate care and appropriate medical support.”

Vermillion started his professional career in 1998 with the Kansas City Wizards after being called up from the Project 40 team. That same year, Vermillion was also a defender for the U.S. Men’s National Team. He went on to play four seasons in the MLS, taking the field for D.C. United and the Colorado Rapids, along with Kansas City. He retired after suffering a serious ankle injury during a game. In all, Vermillion played 22 years of soccer, beginning at age 5.

“It is time for the global soccer community to have a real conversation about heading, especially in the youth game,” said Dr. Chris Nowinski, CLF co-founder and CEO. “A dementia crisis tied to repetitive heading has been discovered among professional soccer players in the United Kingdom, and the same revelation may not be far behind in the United States. We urgently need to investigate how far this crisis extends into amateur soccer and immediately put in place reforms to prevent CTE in the next generation.”

Scott Vermillion is the first former MLS player diagnosed with CTE. Dozens of other soccer players at various levels have also been studied at the Brain Bank, including semi-professional player Patrick Grange, the first American soccer player diagnosed with the disease in 2014, and former high school player Curtis Baushke.

The Vermillion family wants former players who may be struggling with suspected CTE symptoms to know help is available. The Concussion Legacy Foundation HelpLine provides free, personalized support to patients and families battling concussion or suspected CTE symptoms. Anyone who needs assistance can reach out at CLFHelpline.org.

Over 100 sign open letter calling for action to protect athlete’s brains ahead of IFAB’s AGM

(Oxford, UK) – The football community is banding together to advocate for player safety, sending a letter to the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on Monday demanding they introduce temporary concussion substitutes to protect athlete’s brains and allow medical professionals to conduct proper evaluations.

“The current protocols for concussion in football are not working. Therefore, we need to do everything we can to support medical professionals to make the best decisions for player safety, that means allowing them the time and space to conduct robust clinical assessments away from the field of play.” said Dr. Adam J. White, Executive Director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation UK. “Temporary concussion subs are the only way that can happen”.

“Put simply, the current rules by IFAB are not working and players are being put at risk. This is completely unacceptable. Too often we are seeing players assessed for a complex brain injury on the field of play, with the noise and intensity of a football stadium and continuing the game only for them to be replaced later on.” said Dawn Astle, Founder of the Jeff Astle Foundation. “This demonstrates that the current guidelines are failing to prioritize player safety. Change is long overdue”.

PFA Chief Executive Maheta Molango: “The current rules set by IFAB are simply not working. Players are being put at serious risk. When determining the laws of the game, player safety and welfare have to be the top priorities.

“Medical teams are being given an impossible task. Within the pressurised environment of elite football, we have seen frequent incidents of players returning to play with a potential brain injury, only to be removed shortly afterwards once symptoms visibly worsen.

“As the representative voice of professional players in England, we have been clear that we want to see the immediate introduction of temporary concussion substitutes.”

Over 100 representatives from the PFA, players, the world’s top concussion and CTE researchers, and leaders of brain injury nonprofits have all signed the letter.

“It is vital that we better protect footballers from the dangers of continuing to play after sustaining a concussion – particularly those playing at grass roots level,” said Peter McCabe, CEO of brain injury charity Headway. “The introduction of temporary concussion substitutes should have happened years ago, and any further delays are simply unacceptable.”

Currently, medical professionals are forced to evaluate athletes on the field in as few as three minutes, making a comprehensive clinical evaluation impossible. These rules put athlete’s lives at risk. Returning to play with a concussion can and has led to sudden death from second impact syndrome.

Open Letter: Call for IFAB to introduce temporary concussion substitutions in association football

Concussion in association football (soccer) is of increasing concern to athletes, their families, and the public, along with researchers, physicians, and other medical and healthcare professionals.

A concussion is a brain injury. The global medical community agrees that when an athlete has a concussion, they should be immediately withdrawn from participation to prevent further harm.

The global medical community also agrees that an athlete suspected of having a concussion should also be removed immediately and, if a healthcare professional is available, clinically evaluated for concussion – without compromise.

Evaluating a concussion during competition is difficult. Few concussions cause immediate and unambiguous signs like loss of consciousness. In situations where a concussion diagnosis is not certain, current best practice is for an athlete to go through a multimodal assessment with a healthcare professional off the field, and for the athlete to be held out from competition if a brain injury cannot be ruled out.

In football today, healthcare professionals are forced to evaluate athletes on the field, and they face strict time limits, often as few as three minutes, that prevent the healthcare professional from conducting a comprehensive clinical evaluation. These arbitrary rules put the athlete’s life at risk. Returning to play with a concussion can and has led to sudden death through second impact syndrome.

Permitting a temporary concussion substitution in football would allow healthcare professionals to conduct more comprehensive assessments, and send an important signal to every person in the game to treat head injuries with the necessary care. If temporary concussion substitutions were allowed, these concussion evaluations would not be time-pressured and could be conducted off the field in a quiet and controlled environment, which would allow healthcare professionals to use their training to make the best decision for the athlete. More accurate concussion diagnoses are in the best interest of a player’s long-term brain health.

We need to be giving healthcare professionals the time, space, and resources to do their jobs and protect the brains, and lives, of athletes.

Therefore, we call upon IFAB to immediately implement temporary concussion substitutions in the laws of the game for association football for leagues whereby suitable medical and healthcare coverage and oversight allows concussion assessments to be administered.

Kind Regards,

Dr Adam J White

Executive Director, Concussion Legacy Foundation UK

Senior Lecturer, Oxford Brookes University

Dr Robert Cantu

Co-Founder & Medical Director, Concussion Legacy Foundation

Medical Director & Director of Clinical Research, Emerson Hospital

Clinical Professor of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine

Dr Christopher Nowinski

Co-Founder and CEO, Concussion Legacy Foundation

Tim Fleiszer

Executive Director, Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada

Nathan Howarth

Director of Development and Operations, Concussion Legacy Foundation UK

Jonas Baer-Hoffmann

General Secretary, FIFPRO

Laraine Astle

Widow of Jeff Astle, Former Professional Football Player

Dawn Astle

Co-Founder, The Jeff Astle Foundation

Daughter of Jeff Astle, Former Professional Football Player

Dorice Mottram

Daughter of Jeff Astle, Former Professional Football Player

Claire Astle

Daughter of Jeff Astle, Former Professional Football Player

Rachel Walden

Trustee, The Jeff Astle Foundation

Daughter of Rod Taylor, Former Professional Football Player

Chris Byrant MP

Member of Parliament for Rhondda

John Mousinho

Chairman, Professional Footballers Association

Professional Football Player, Oxford United

Maheta Molango

Chief Executive, Professional Footballers Association

Professional Football Player

Gordon Stringer

Parent of Rowan Stringer

Advocate & Director, Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada

Professor Allyson Pollock

Professor, Newcastle University

Dr Ken Quarrie

Scientist

Dr Alan Pearce

Associate Professor, La Trobe University

Director, Australia Sports Brain Bank

James Drake

Founder, The Drake Foundation

Dr Hilda Hayo

Chief Executive & Chief Admiral Nurse, Dementia UK

Dr Catherine M Suter

Associate Professor

Chief Scientist, Australian Sports Brain Bank

Distinguished Professor Sir Richard Faull KNZM, FRSNZNZ

Director, Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, NZ

Dr Michael J Grey

Reader, University of East Anglia

Trustee, United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum

Chloe Hayward

Executive Director, United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum

Peter McCabe

CEO, Headway

Dr Thor Stein MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Pathology, Boston University CTE Centre

Professor Robert A. Stern, Ph.D.

Director of Clinical Research & Professor of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Anatomy & Neurobiology, Boston University

Professor Adam M. Finkel, Sc.D., CIH

Professor

Dr Michael L Alosco, PhD

Associate Professor & Lead Scientist, Boston University CTE Center

Professor Helen Dawes

Professor, University of Exeter

Professor Hana Burianová

Professor of Neuroscience, Bournemouth University

Professor Willie Stewart

Consultant Neuropathologist, Glasgow

Peter Robinson

Father of Benjamin Robinson

Campaigner and Advocate

Nicholas Civetta

Chairman, United States Rugby Players Association

Dr Rory Magrath

Associate Professor, Solent University

Dr Chris Szedlak

Lecturer, Hartpury University

Dr Elisabeth Williams

Senior Lecturer, ​​Swansea University

Professor Gabriele De Luca

Associate Professor & Director of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford

Consultant Neurologist, Oxford University Health Care Trust

Dr Melanie Lang

Reader of Safeguarding and Child Protection in Sport, Edge Hill University

Dr Howard Thomas Hurst

Senior Lecturer in Sport and Nutritional Sciences, University of Central Lancashire

Dr Jonathan Attwood

Academic Clinical Fellow in Neurology, University of Oxford

Dr Jack Hardwicke

Lecturer, University of Northampton

Dr Karen Hind

Associate Professor, Durham University

Andy Ellis

Professional Rugby Union Player

Dr John Batten

Senior Fellow, University of Winchester

Professor Eric Anderson MA, MA, PhD, CPsychol, FAcSS

Professor Sport, Health and Wellbeing, University of Winchester

Stephen Blain Elliotts

Former Professional Football Player

Eamonn Rogers

Former Professional Football Player

Andy Tysoe

Chair, Dementia Transformation Board and PFA Coordinator

Dr Joe Piggin

Senior Lecturer, Loughborough University

Keith R McIntosh

Sporting Memories

Dr Keith Parry

Deputy Head of Department, Bournemouth University

Director of Education Programmes, Concussion Legacy Foundation UK

Christine Gilliver

Wife of Former Professional Football Player

Dr Michelle Miller

Reader, University of Warwick

Dr Jo Batey

University of Winchester

Dr Kathleen Bachynski, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor of Public Health, Muhlenberg College

Dr Katie Liston

Senior Lecturer, Ulster University

Hana Walker-Brown

Author & Creative Director, Broccoli Productions

Mrs Jean Hague

Wife & Full-time Carer for Former Professional Football Player

Dr Alex Fenton

Head of Centre for Professional and Economic Development, University of Chester

Penny Watson

Campaigner & Independent Consultant

Wife to Former Professional Football Player

Dr Stephen T. Casper PhD

Medical Historian

Joanne Claypole

Daughter-in-law of Former Professional Football Player

Paul Brown

Secretary, United Kingdom Acquired Brain Injury Forum

Partner, Burnetts Solicitors LLP

Professor Lea T. Grinberg

Professor, University of California San Francisco

Professor Martin Roderick

Head of Sport & Exercise Sciences, Durham University

John Stiles

Former Professional Football Player

Son of Nobby Stiles, Former Professional Football Player

Dr Lisa Ryan, BSc PhD RNutr

Head of Department of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Atlantic Technological University

Tom Ross

Sports Broadcaster

Dr Izzy Moore

Associate Professor in Human Movement & Sports Medicine, Cardiff Metropolitan University

Dr Chris M. Hanna

Sports Physician, Axis Sports Medicine Specialists

Jonathan Greening

Football Coach

Ben Purkiss

Former Professional Football Player & Former Chairman, Professional Footballers Association

Dr Stuart Whigham

Senior Lecturer, Oxford Brookes University

Steve Jamieson

Chief Executive & General Secretary, Royal College of Podiatry

Trustee, Dementia UK

Dr Simon Phelan

Senior Lecturer, Oxford Brookes University

Kim Worthington

Daughter of Frank Worthington, Former England International Football Player

Adrienne Fearis

Daughter of Tommy Carroll, Republic of Ireland International Football Player

Sarah Moss

Daughter of Ernie Moss, Former Professional Football Player

Gary Whitham

Son of Terry Whitham, Former Professional Football Player

Bonnie Kinnear

Wife of Joe Kinnear, Former Republic of Ireland International Football Player

Chris Gibson

Son of Colin Gibson, Former Professional Football Player

Dickie Davis

Reporter, Sky Sports Soccer Saturday

Kay Bonetti

Widow of former England international Peter Bonetti

Joe Mayo

Former Professional Football Player

Mickey Fudge

Former Professional Football Player

Dennis Clarke

Former Professional Football Player

Paul Peschisolido

Former Canadian International Football Player

Jonathan Greening

Former Professional Football Player and England Under 21 player

Victoria Bailey

Daughter of Mike Bailey, Former Professional Football Player and England International

Andrew Bailey

Son of Mike Bailey, Former Professional Football Player and England International

Chris Sutton

Former Professional Football Player

Pundit & Commentator, BT Sport

Caroline O’Loughlin

Daughter of Frank Wignall, Former Professional Football Player and England International

Dr Samantha Bureau

Assistant Executive Director, Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada

Director of Programmes, Concussion Legacy Foundation

Mrs Maureen Phoenix

Widow of Peter Phoenix, Former Professional Football Player

Mark Phoenix

Son of Peter Phoenix, Former Professional Football Player

David Ali

Chief Executive, Manchester United Family Group

Dr Virginia Newcombe

Emergency Physician, Cambridge

Dr Mae Mansoubi

Research Fellow, University of Exeter

Dana Saul

Daughter of Peter Simpson, Former Professional Football Player

Ann Simpson

Wife of Peter Simpson, Former Professional Football Player

Dr Jeff Brooks

Director of Operations, Concussion Legacy Foundation Canada

Mark Saggers

Presenter, Talk TV

David Serella

Former Professional Football Player

Pat Serella

Wife of David Serella, Former Professional Football Player

Val Mackay

Daughter of Dave Mackay, Former Professional Football Player and Scotland International

Alan Shearer

Former Professional Football Player

Dr Helen Murray

Research Fellow, The University of Auckland

Dr Michael E. Buckland

Director, Australian Sports Brain Bank

Dr Thomas McCabe

Consultant Old Age Psychiatrist, Renfrewshire

University of Glasgow, Honorary Clinical Lecturer

Royal College of Psychiatrists Sport and Exercise Psychiatry

Peter Hutchinson

Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Cambridge

Director of Clinical Research, Royal College of Surgeons of England

Kieran Gill

Journalist

Brian Deane

Former Professional Football Player and England International

Kevin Keegan

Former Professional Football Player

John Hartson

Former Professional Football Player

Tom Watt

Actor