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 is based at the Institute of Sport Health and Exercise (ISEH) 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 location, ICHIRF are able to complete the
entire screening process under one roof and potentially accelerate the
rate of future screenings. It also facilitates 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.
More information about ICHIRF