Trinity College Dublin recently hosted the inaugural meeting of a new concussion advocacy group, which brings together researchers, medics, sportspeople and charities, and puts the burning issue of concussive brain injuries in sports such as rugby, GAA, football, and boxing firmly in 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, have not been officially recognised or addressed.
Here, in an initiative driven by Dr Mick Molloy, the inaugural meeting of the concussion advocacy group was held at the Smurfit Institute of Genetics 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.”
And as part of the Trinity Research Doctorate awards (TRDA) programme, the event showcased the 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.
“The TRDA programme will take the lead nationally in developing a training network for the next generation of scientists, clinicians and legal professionals that will focus on how we deal with the impact of concussion in society,” said Prof David Loane, Associate Professor of Biochemistry in Trinity’s School of Biochemistry and Immunology.
