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There are 6 comments on BU Brain Researchers Grapple with NFL Offer

  1. The Boston University Faculty Council will today be reviewing the draft of a proposed new policy on Institutional Conflict of Interest in Research. This is not regarding whether the researchers have a financial stake in the outcome (a different policy). The new policy is for regulating situations where Boston University or key decision-making individuals have a real or perceived interest in influencing the acceptance and/or outcome of research (sharing ownership in a startup company, avoiding institutional embarrassment, seeking institutional publicity, or whatever). It is hard to craft such a policy, and one issue is whether to just set up mechanisms, or also to give examples. Your Faculty Council representative(s) will be engaging this issue this afternoon.

  2. The NFL’s past concussion research has been such a farce and a documented fabrication, they should not be allowed in. By doing so you taint the entire purpose of the research, independence. If they are allowed in, their shadow will minimize the significance by their very involvement. These are the owners of the NFL, players are interchangable pieces of meat, let them come up with their own creative ideas, better equiptment for one.

  3. Hello,

    I’m a mother of a 16year old son who loves football and basketball.

    His last season he had suffered his 2nd GRADE 3 CONCUSSION in a 11 month period.

    He was being told that if he got one more concussion, he would never be able to play sports again. I started to do major research on concussions and mouth guards when I came across your website. My son was fitted for a Maher mouth guard right before the football season begun. In the first game he was hit very hard and as a mom.I was holding my breath to see if he had to come out of the game. He got right up and continued playing. After the game I asked him about that hit and he said “Mom I can’t believe I didn’t feel a thing”

    Which ,as the season continued, he said it has helped unbelievable! I have parents coming to talk to me when their child gets a concussion to see what I have learned and what steps for protection I have taken. I truly believe that the Maher mouth guard is 100% the reason my son can continue to play sports. Thank you!

    Roseann Taylor

    Lombard , IL

    story links

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paula-duffy/the-nfl-can-help-prevent_b_351212.html

    http://www.kansascity.com/sports/story/1552026.html

  4. The blood has already been spilled, partnering with the NFL without critisizing their past research manipulations and fabrications, puts the blood on B.U.’s hands. A full analysis of NFL concussion committee research must be done, in order to expose these studies that have been called into question. Like big tobbacco they were done to minimize the effects of concussion in order to stall and reduce any legal liability claims against the NFL. To fund a study where brains will be harvested and tested over the next decade or maybe longer, falls right into the NFL’s plan, calling into question the credibility of B.U. This institutionalized stall is classic NFL, enabling them, is not worth the trouble. The medical community has already proven in boxers, CTE and other problems occur from repeated blows to the head, jaw, and upper spine. Locating the mechanism which causes this problem is more important. Protecting players today, preventing future CTE cases should be the focus.

  5. I’m very grateful to see that the research is being given the funding to explore this issue.
    Something that I’ve been noticing, in both college and pro football, is the amount of players that seem to lose their helmets during games. I’ve been watching this sport on many levels over the past few decades and don’t remember a time when I’ve ever seen it happen so often…one comes off almost once a QUARTER! My question is, does this have an effect on the amount of concussions were seeing? My guess is, yes it does. We’re seeing more players with dreadlocked/longer hair, which could be a problem, as well as loose and ill fitting equipment. Most of these teams are using the top equipment available and it’s up to the organizations and players to use them properly.
    The issue that I’m more concerned with are the younger generations of players that look up to these professionals and want to model themselves after their idols. High school individuals that are putting their young lives in jeopardy to achieve that “look” that their heroes have, but don’t understand the risks that their taking. Some of these youngsters may not even have Health Insurance and risk, besides their health, their parents financial well-being all for the sake of fashion.

  6. The NFL has a clear conflict of interest, since they want to minimize liability. To this end, the grant to BU can well be used as evidence that the NFL is following best practices (as defined by the grant recipients) and is diligent in protecting players from harm. On the other hand, the NFL also has a clearly ethical motive, since they have the greatest financial interest in protecting players (their assets). The $1million grant is very valuable to advance the science since there are many open questions on how best to treat and prevent brain damage from game injuries: Which injuries require treatment? How long should a player be removed from play after injury? What physical treatments and brain supplements are required for short- and long-term treatment? What helmet technology should be required by the NFL that will not interfere with the game? Because of the NFL funding, there will always be an implied asterisk next to the research findings, but the research is so important that BU should accept the grant while clearly acknowledging the conflict of interest.

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