Our expert answers 3 Questions
At the Michigan Concussion Center, we focus on developing new knowledge around concussions that leads to improved patient care. Our research ranges from foundational work at the molecular level to understanding risk and recovery at the population level. My personal interest is in exploring the long-term effects of concussions. We are currently running the largest ongoing research study of concussions, called the CARE Consortium, which includes more than 50,000 former college athletes and military service members that we follow over time. Our goal is to better understand what factors put someone at risk for long-term negative outcomes and then develop interventions that help reduce those risks.
I have always enjoyed tackling large, complex issues by breaking them down into smaller, manageable questions. That’s how I approach my research. Understanding who is at risk for long-term negative outcomes from concussions is not straightforward and will not come down to a single answer. While concussions themselves will be part of the equation, it's also likely that genetics, education, diet, exercise, and several other factors play a role as well. Ultimately, we know that sport and activity are beneficial to physical and mental health, so my goal is to help people participate in these activities as safely as possible.
Over the years, I've been fortunate to have a role in shaping concussion policy for a number of organizations, including the NCAA, the U.S. Department of Defense, and U.S. Soccer. Most recently, I was elected president of the Concussion in Sport Group, which issues policy recommendations every four years following a review of the existing research on concussions. Domestic and international groups widely adopt those recommendations to improve the health and safety of athletes and active individuals.