The International Concussion and Head Injury Research Foundation (ICHIRF) is an international initiative looking at the long-term effects of concussion in men and women who have competed in impact sports. The ICHIRF project is part of a collaboration between concussion research centres in Australia, Switzerland, USA and Ireland. This independent research seeks to establish whether retired sportsmen and sportswomen have an increased incidence of, or suffer an earlier onset of neuro-degenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s Disease and the condition currently described as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), when compared to age and gender matched controls.
ICHIRF has been operational for 18 months and is delighted to have move from Harley Street to the Institute of Sport Health and Exercise (ISEH). Based in central London, the ISEH provides world-class sports medical facilities to patients and undertakes key research studies to support elite athletes. ISEH have leading imaging, laboratory and clinical facilities on site, and in this new location, ICHIRF will be able to complete the entire screening process under one roof and potentially accelerate the rate of future screenings. The move will also facilitate the potential for increased collaboration with ISEH partners, including University College London, the English Institute of Sport and the British Olympic Association.
The ISEH already has a dedicated concussion clinic which has been established in collaboration with the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, to address the need for both the elite population and recreational athletes.