News | 7 March 2024
Expert academics, researchers and sport industry leaders will be sharing the latest developments in brain injury and concussion research at a free event at Cardiff Metropolitan University this upcoming Brain Awareness Week (11-17th March 2024).
'Play the Game, Protect your Brain', on Wednesday 13th March from 17:00-20:00 at Cardiff Met's Cyncoed campus, will discuss the latest techniques being developed to test for concussion and new measures that will protect players in all sports from recurrent concussion and brain injuries, while also exploring what more can be done. The event will comprise both short presentations and a roundtable discussion.
Dr Huw Wiltshire, Dean of the School of Sport and Health Sciences, will discuss Cardiff Met's collaboration with World Rugby to trial the instrumented mouthguards currently being used within this year's Guiness Six Nations tournament to track and monitor player head injuries.
Dr Izzy Moore and Dr Molly McCarthy-Ryan, two Cardiff Met academics, will share their research into concussion and give details on the community injury surveillance system they've developed for rugby across Wales. A fellow Cardiff Met academic and reader in Neuroscience, Dr Claire Kelly, will discuss give an overview of her research into degenerative diseases including Huntington's and Alzheimer's disease.
Joining the roundtable discussion will be Sean Connelly, Medical Service Manager and Lead Physiotherapist at the Football Association of Wales, Dan Clements, Head of Coach Development at the Football Association and Dr Christian Edwards, Director of Cardiff Met Men's Football, while World Rugby Chief Medical Officer Dr Éanna Falvey will attend from a live link.
Dr Claire Kelly said: “In recent years, there have been strides taken in the measures used in sport to protect players from brain injury and recurrent concussion. But clearly there is still some way to go. Former players who were on the field when research wasn't as prevalent and guidance was less stringent are now speaking out about the long term impact head injuries have had to their health. While our own research at Cardiff Met has shown that there is still a big gap in the research and data being gathered specifically on female concussion.
“This event will bring together researchers and industry leaders for thought-provoking and insightful discussion on the research around brain injury in sport and what we as a community can do to strengthen the protection of players for the future."
To sign up for the free event at Cardiff Metropolitan University, go to: https://gck.fm/nhaju
