The Drake Foundation
The Drake Foundation, is a UK-based not-for-profit organization with a mission to initiate, support and sponsor studies into concussion injuries in sport.1 The Foundation was formed in 2014 by James Drake, the founder and chairman of the Future Science Group, a group of companies specializing in biomedical publishing across multiple media.
There is rapidly growing concern regarding concussion in contact sports. Systematic review of the scientific literature indicates that multiple concussions are a risk factor for cognitive impairment and can impact mental health.2 Studies also indicate that subject to appropriate evidence, strategies such as modification of sports rules could significantly reduce concussion risk and the associated health burden.[1]
The Drake Foundation aims to bring together those organizations involved in contact sports and in clinical neuroscience to catalyse the creation of programs and projects to establish better understanding of concussion in sport, its incidence and its consequences. The Foundation describes itself as an advocate for change in how concussion is considered and addressed within the context of sport at all levels, and is adopting multiple different strategies to progress understanding in sports concussion and facilitate collaboration.[2]
Leadership and staffing
The foundation was formed by James Drake in 2014. He is Chairman of the Foundation alongside CEO Peter Hughes and Programme Manager Hannah Wilson.[2]
Activities
Concussion – open-access journal
In July 2015, the Foundation launched Concussion[1], a peer-reviewed, open access, scientific journal dedicated to the topic of concussions. Concussion is published by Future Science Group on behalf of The Drake Foundation. The journal articles are written by independent scientists and clinicians, and the journal is currently published four times per year.
Concussion Database
In November 2016, the Foundation created the Concussion Database[2]. The free-to-access database provides an educational resource, with a Literature module that currently indexes over 16,000 peer-reviewed articles from the scientific literature relating to concussion. The database also includes Assessment, Technology, Research-in-Progress and Events modules. The database is curated by Foundation staff.
Research projects
In initiating and sponsoring research projects, the Foundation has partnered with major sports organizations including Saracens F.C., and the Rugby Football Union, together with academic centres with expertise in concussion, including University College London, The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Queen Mary University of London and the Institute of Occupational Medicine.
Annual symposium
Since 2016 The Drake Foundation has partnered with the FA and RFU to organise the Annual UK Sports Concussion Research Symposium. The event aims to bring together experts from across the UK to share knowledge and strengthen research collaborations. The first event was held on 23 November 2016 at Twickenham Stadium.[3]
List of studies
HEalth and Ageing Data in the Game of football
Principal Investigators: Professor Neil Pearce, Dr Valentina Gallo, Professor Damien McElvenny Co-Investigators: Dr Simon Kemp, Dr Sebastian Crutch, Professor Huw Morris, Professor Henrik Zetterberg, Dr Andrea Malaspina, Professor John Cherrie, Professor John Hardy, Dr Mike Loosemore, Dr Elizabeth Williamson
Institutions: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, Institute of Occupational Medicine, RFU, University College London
Funding commitment: £660,000
BRain health & healthy AgEIng in retired elite rugby players Principal Investigators: Professor Neil Pearce, Dr Valentina Gallo, Professor Damien McElvenny
Co-Investigators: Dr Simon Kemp, Professor Nigel Arden
Institutions: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, Institute of Occupational Medicine, RFU, University of Oxford
Funding commitment: £450,000
Status: Ongoing
3. Biomarker study of head injury in rugby[7]
Principal Investigators: Professor John Hardy, Professor Huw Morris, Professor Henrik Zetterberg
Co-Investigators: Dr Etienne Laverse, Professor David Sharp
Institutions: UCL Institute of Neurology, Imperial College London
Status: Ongoing
Funding commitment: £500,000
4. Head injury, cognition & imaging correlates of dementia in the Insight 1946 cohort[8]
Principal Investigators: Professor Nick Fox, Dr Jonathan Schott
Institution: Dementia Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology
Status: Ongoing
Funding commitment: £60,000
5. Mixed pathologies, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, account for dementia in retired association football (soccer) players[9][10]
Principal Investigators: Dr Helen Ling, Professor Huw Morris, Dr James Neal, Professor Andrew Lees, Professor John Hardy, Professor Janice Holton, Professor Tamasz Revesz, Dr Don Williams
Institution: Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Institute of Neurology, Cardiff University, Cefn Coed Hospital Swansea
Status: Complete
Funding commitment: £5,000
Future Work
There remains a significant lack of information about the cause-and-effect relationships of repetitive head impact exposure, concussion, and brain and mental health, and with the correct information it could be possible to adopt strategies to reduce risk in many contact sports.[2][4][11]
The Foundation aims to initiate and support prospective studies to elucidate these relationships and inform the development and adoption of suitable risk reduction strategies.[12] On the 12 November 2017 The Foundation announced its intention to commit £1 million to UK-based research projects investigating concussion in association football, the first of which should be announced by Summer 2018.[13]
References
- ↑ "Arthroscopic surgery for knee pain". British Journal of Sports Medicine. 51 (20): 1502–1502. October 2017. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2017-i3740rep. ISSN 0306-3674.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "The Drake Foundation". The Drake Foundation. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
- ↑ Wiesmann, U. N.; DiDonato, S.; Herschkowitz, N. N. (1975-10-27). "Effect of chloroquine on cultured fibroblasts: release of lysosomal hydrolases and inhibition of their uptake". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 66 (4): 1338–1343. ISSN 1090-2104. PMID 4.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hendrickson, W. A.; Ward, K. B. (1975-10-27). "Atomic models for the polypeptide backbones of myohemerythrin and hemerythrin". Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. 66 (4): 1349–1356. ISSN 1090-2104. PMID 5.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Brain health and healthy ageing in retired elite rugby players". Neuro Central. 2016-06-02. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
- ↑ Gallo, Valentina; McElvenny, Damien; Hobbs, Catherine; Davoren, Donna; Morris, Huw; Crutch, Sebastian; Zetterberg, Henrik; Fox, Nick C; Kemp, Simon (December 2017). "BRain health and healthy AgeINg in retired rugby union players, the BRAIN Study: study protocol for an observational study in the UK". BMJ Open. 7 (12): e017990. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017990. ISSN 2044-6055. PMID 29282262.
- ↑ "A biomarker study of brain injury in rugby - Neuro Central". Neuro Central. 2016-05-20. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
- ↑ "Dementia, biomarkers and an extraordinary study: Nick Fox on Insight 46 - Neuro Central". Neuro Central. 2017-07-05. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
- ↑ "Acknowledgement to referees". Acta Neuropathologica. 133 (5): 857–861. 2017-03-24. doi:10.1007/s00401-017-1700-3. ISSN 0001-6322.
- ↑ Davis, Nicola (2017-02-15). "Footballers could be at risk of dementia from blows to the head, study suggests". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
- ↑ Cunningham, Joice; Broglio, Steven; Wilson, Fiona (April 2018). "Influence of playing rugby on long-term brain health following retirement: a systematic review and narrative synthesis". BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine. 4 (1): e000356. doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2018-000356. ISSN 2055-7647.
- ↑ "Football and dementia: What do we know? What research is needed?". Alzheimer's Society blog. 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
- ↑ Pym, Hugh (2017-11-13). "£1m for football brain injury research". BBC News. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
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