Trinity College Dublin recently hosted the inaugural meeting of a new concussion advocacy group, which brings together researchers, medics, sports people and charities, and puts the issue of concussive brain injuries in sports such as rugby, GAA, football and boxing under the spotlight.

 

Concussive brain injuries in sports have become the focus of increased medical, scientific and public scrutiny over the past decade, yet our understanding of the long-term consequences of these injuries on brain health is still far from clear. Added to that, the views and concerns of the sports participants, current and past, has not been officially recognised or addressed. In an initiative driven by Dr Mick Molloy, the inaugural meeting of the concussion advocacy group met last month in Trinity College Dublin.

 

Dr Molloy is a former Irish rugby union player and served as a member of the International Rugby Board Medical Advisory Committee and in 2005 was appointed as the IRB’s first ever medical officer. He has been recognised internationally for his achievements particularly in the key areas of global injury surveillance and the development of concussion guidelines.

 

Dr Molloy said: “When driving the conversation on improvements in concussion identification, management and treatment, it is essential that the public and participant voice is front and centre.  We have established this advocacy group to be the focal point for Ireland in developing cohesive concussion guidelines across all sporting codes.”

 

Prof Colin Doherty, Head of the School of Medicine at Trinity, added: “It is absolutely critical that we continue to develop the highest levels of research that will lead to the next generation of clinical management of concussive brain injuries. It is only by opening the conversation to all stakeholders that this will happen.”

 

The meeting heard from leaders in the field including Prof Doherty, Prof Matthew Campbell, Prof David Loane, Prof Jim Meaney, Prof Brian Lawlor and Dr Emer Ryan. Guest speaker, Prof Clare Bryant from Cambridge University, also discussed her work on novel biomarkers for concussion.

 

As part of the Trinity Research Doctorate awards (TRDA) programme the event also showcased projects of five PhD students who are each working on various aspects of concussion research including pre-clinical and clinical research endeavours, the societal implications of head injuries, and the associated legal implications.