James Drake (businessman)
James J.P Drake is a British entrepreneur and philanthropist. He is the Chairman and Founder of The Drake Foundation and founder of major science publisher The Future Science Group.
The Drake Foundation[edit]
In 2014, Drake launched The Drake Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation committed to understanding and improving the health and welfare of sporting athletes who participate in contact sports. Since launch, Drake and the foundation have funded and published a range of studies that seek to uncover the association between neurodegenerative diseases and professional rugby and football careers.[1]
In July 2021, James Drake and The Drake Foundation published the Drake Biomarker Rugby Study, a landmark research into abnormalities in brain structure within professional rugby players.[2] The study gained worldwide coverage and prompted response from governing bodies within the sport.[3][4]
Following the study’s publication, Drake appeared on BBC One's Morning Live to discuss the study.[5] He was interviewed by ITV News, where he called for player health within rugby to “be taken more seriously".[6] Drake also appeared live on LBC Radio to discuss the study with host Iain Dale, where he called for a review of health protocol within professional rugby. Drake's comments have also been featured in leading French daily newspaper, L'Equipe, Ireland's RTE and Australia's Sydney Morning Herald.[7][8][9]
Drake has also been at the forefront of other leading brain health studies across football and rugby, with University College London describing him as “pioneering work in this field in the UK”.
In October 2021, James and The Drake Foundation published their findings from the BRAIN study, research that sought to uncover associations between a history of concussion and neurodegenerative disease. The study gained national attention in the UK, with James calling for the rugby governing bodies to take urgent action to assess the health protocol within rugby, or “we could see players drop out at all levels".[10]
Career[edit]
In 2003, Drake founded the Future Science Group, a science publisher focussed on medical, biotechnological and scientific research around the globe.[11] In 2015, James launched the Drake Calleja Trust, an organisation that provides music grants to those with exceptional musical talent from predominantly socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.[12]
In 2019, the Drake Calleja Trust launched The Drake YolanDa Award, which recognises and supports emerging artists across the UK. Drake launched the initiative with award-winning musician and BBC Music ambassador, YolanDa Brown.[13]
Other work[edit]
James is an amateur painter. One of his most well-known pieces depicted the moment when UK Prime Minister, Theresa May signed the Article 50 letter that officially committed the UK to leaving the European Union. The painting generated attention in the UK media and was subsequently purchased by May in a private sale.[14]
References[edit]
- ↑ "Our projects". The Drake Foundation. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
- ↑ Overman, Deborah. "Could Playing Rugby Rewire the Brain? - Physical Therapy Products". Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "Drake Foundation calls for more research into heading". SkySports. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ World, Rugby (2021-07-23). "New rugby concussion reports call for action on brain trauma". Rugby World. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ The Drake Rugby Biomarker Study on BBC's Morning Live, retrieved 2021-08-31
- ↑ "'Buck passing' over sport concussion protocols slammed by MPs". ITV News. 2021-07-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "Une étude sur les commotions démontre des changements de volume du cerveau de la moitié des joueurs de rugby de haut niveau". L'Équipe (in français). Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ Proszenko, Adrian (2021-07-22). "Study shows one in four elite rugby players could have brain damage". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "Concussion study findings 'will scare certain players'". 2021-07-22.
- ↑ "Rugby chiefs urged to change rules". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2021-10-22.
- ↑ "Meet the team". Future Science Group. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ Munbodh, Emma (2019-02-25). "15 weird and wonderful bursaries that could get you into university for free". mirror. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ "YolanDa Brown and James Drake announce new music prize for emerging young artists". Music Mark. 2019-02-22. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
- ↑ Yorke, Harry (2018-03-30). "Theresa May buys portrait of her signing Article 50". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-08-31.
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