09/09/2015

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
 
Research Provides Promising Information to Advance Athlete Concussion Detection and Treatment
PHOENIX & ROSEMONT, Ill.-- 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.

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:
Riddell/ Erin Griffin /224.585.5231/eegriffin@riddellsports.com
or
Arizona State University/Thomas Lenneberg/480.965.6594/Thomas.Lenneberg@asu.edu
or
TGen/Steve Yozwiak/602.343.8704/syozwiak@tgen.org


Source TGen through BUSINESS WIRE by press release ©

 

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