The NCAA and the U.S. Department of Defense have joined forces to carry out a research and awareness program aimed at enhancing the safety of student-athletes and service members. The partnership is intended to improve scientific understanding of concussions and other head injuries, and to promote changes in the culture surrounding reporting and management of concussions.
As part of the program, the NCAA has committed $4 million for the Mind Matters Challenge — a grant program to support research on improving the effectiveness of concussion education programs delivered to student-athletes, coaches, soldiers and other at-risk populations.
“Culturally, self-reporting head injuries or reporting others who display head injury symptoms is seen by some as a sign of weakness,” said NCAA Chief Medical Officer Brian Hainline. “We hope to change that by arming physicians and scientists with better clinical data, and by creating educational programs to increase understanding of the importance of diagnostics for immediate action and tracking for follow-up treatment.”
The NCAA has asked for Baylor’s help in identifying members of our faculty with an interest in topics related to student-athlete, college student, or military service member safety or well-being to apply for this funding opportunity. Specifically, the program targets individuals in the following disciplines:
- Marketing
- Communications
- Education
- Film/Theater
- Neurology
- Mental Health
- Public Health
- Psychology/Behavioral Studies
- Sports Medicine/Sport and Exercise Science
- Other relevant researchers/clinicians
Faculty members in these disciplines who may be interested in this program are asked to contact Baylor’s faculty athletic representative, Jeremy Counseller, prior to Sept. 15.
September 29, 2014 at 2:01 pm
I would like to sign up for the Mind Matters Challenge. It is my understanding that the enrollment has been extended to October 15tth.
Thank you.
Jeff Fair, EdD, ATC
Associated AD for Sports Medicine
United States Naval Academy
Annapolis, MD
September 30, 2014 at 9:44 am
You are correct, the enrollment period has been extended through Oct. 15. You can click here to access the form.