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- Posted Tuesday September 8, 2015
Riddell and TGen Begin Third Year of Research Collaboration with Arizona State University's Football Program
Study Uses Genetic Information and Head Impact Data Collected from ASU Student-Athletes with Riddell's Sideline Response System
PHOENIX & ROSEMONT, Ill. - Sept. 8, 2015 -
Riddell, the leader in football helmet technology and innovation,
and the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen),
a leader in cutting-edge genomic research, today announced they
have begun the third year of a study to advance concussion
detection and treatment with the Pac-12's Arizona State University
and its Sun Devil football program.
Researchers are working to identify biomarkers released from the
brain that provide definitive evidence of concussion. The
innovative study uses blood, saliva and urine samples collected
from Sun Devil football student-athletes who volunteered to
participate in this research combined with player head impact data
collected through Riddell's Sideline Response System (SRS). Each
year of this research collaboration brings a new understanding of
molecular changes resulting from head impact exposure with the
desired objective being to find a definitive, objective method to
diagnose concussions and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
"Riddell's continued participation in this potentially
game-changing research, with leading institutions like ASU, TGen
and their partners, is another example of our commitment to
'Smarter Football,'" said Dan Arment, President of Riddell.
"Together we are advancing player protection and furthering
important research that has the potential to forever change athlete
concussion diagnosis and treatment in football and beyond."
In addition to baseline samples collected during pre-season
workouts, TGen faculty and staff collect samples and data during
all practices and home games.
"All of sport needs a definitive test that will objectively define
when an athlete is injured, and we are excited about the prospect
of developing such a test through this study," said Dr. Kendall Van
Keuren-Jensen, TGen Associate Professor and co-leader of the study.
"Equally exciting is the prospect of serving the larger medical
community dealing with multiple forms of head injury."
Select Sun Devils players' football helmets are equipped with
sensors from the Riddell SRS to obtain real-time head impact data
on the frequency and severity of head impacts experienced during
games and practices. Impacts are analyzed alongside genetic
information from players that experience a concussion with the
objective of helping physicians diagnose concussion and better
identify when a player might be expected to recover and return to
the field.
"Our primary mission as an athletics department is to serve our
student-athletes and our community, and continuing this study for a
third year accomplishes both of these goals," said Ray Anderson,
Vice President of University Athletics and Athletics Director. "We
pride ourselves on being innovative and on our willingness to help
further a game we all value, and, along with industry leaders
Riddell and TGen,we are looking forward to spending another
season helping shape the future of football."
The study also provides key insights to Riddell to help improve
its monitoring and alerting technologies like Riddell SRS, used
primarily at the elite level of football, and its InSite Impact
Response System, used by thousands of players across youth, high
school and college football. Data from the project would help
refine the types of impacts that the system should alert the
sideline to using the knowledge of biomarkers and impact profiles.
Riddell's football helmet designs could also evolve with continued
understanding of the correlation between impact locations and
particular biomarkers.
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About Riddell
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of
protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet
technology and innovation. One of BRG Sports' most well-known
brands, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets,
shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing,
repainting and recertifying existing equipment). For more
information, visit our website at http://www.riddell.com, like the
Riddell Facebook page, or follow
Riddell on Twitter and Instagram @RiddellSports.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the
American Research University, creating an institution that is
committed to excellence, access and impact. ASU measures itself by
those it includes, not by those it excludes. ASU pursues research
that contributes to the public good, and ASU assumes major
responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of
the communities that surround it. For more information, visit www.asu.edu and www.thesundevils.com, and follow
Sun Devil Athletics on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with neurological disorders, cancer, and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally world-wide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org. Follow TGen on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @TGen.
Media Contacts:
Erin Griffin, Riddell
224.585.5231 | [email protected]
Thomas Lenneberg, Arizona State University
480.965.6594 | [email protected]
Steve Yozwiak, TGen
602.343.8704 | [email protected]
