NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Under Armour
(NYSE: UA), the NFL and GE (NYSE: GE) today announced seven
winners of the Head Health Challenge II. Each award winner will
receive $500,000, and will also have
the opportunity to receive an additional $1,000,000 to advance their work to better
protect against brain injury. The disruptive ideas introduced by
these seven entities are designed to increase brain safety for
athletes, members of the armed forces and society at-large. The
stories behind the winning entities and their pioneering efforts in
this field are showcased in seven short online videos available to
watch at www.headhealthchallenge.com.
The award winners were selected from nearly 500 proposals from
19 countries, which were submitted between September 2013 and February 2014. Under Armour, the NFL and GE will
monitor the progress of these seven initiatives during the next
year, and will reward up to five of the winning teams with an
additional $1,000,000 in 2015,
contingent upon continued innovation advancements, potential for
commercialization and on-field impact.
The open innovation challenge is part of the multi-year
collaboration among Under Armour, GE and the NFL called the Head
Health Initiative. Launched in March
2013, the initiative includes a four-year, $40 million research and development program from
the NFL and GE to evaluate and develop next generation imaging
technologies to improve diagnosis, which would allow for targeting
treatment therapy for patients with mild traumatic brain injury.
The two open innovation challenges will provide as much as
$20 million in research and
technology development to better understand, diagnose and protect
against brain injury.
The Challenge award winners are:
Army Research Laboratory, Baltimore, MD—The Army Research
Laboratory (ARL) created rate-dependent tethers that allow free
motion at low speeds, but provide high force resistance during
high-speed events. ARL proposes using these smart
materials to connect the head to the torso, allowing voluntary head
movement during sports action, while minimizing sudden
accelerations caused by high speed collisions, often associated
with concussions. Beyond sports, this technology also has the
potential to mitigate head trauma for members of the military.
Emory University, Atlanta,
GA—Researchers and engineers from Emory University and the Georgia Institute of Technology developed a
prototype medical device that can screen and assess concussions in
near real-time. The portable device, known as iDETECT, can be
used on the sidelines of sporting events. It consists of a headset
and handheld device that rapidly assesses the player's symptoms,
including cognitive function, balance and eye movements.
UCLA, Los Angeles,
CA—UCLA and Architected
Materials, Inc. are developing a new energy-absorbing microlattice
material for improved helmet performance. They are
developing a material to be used as a new under-helmet liner that
would absorb significantly more energy than current designs and
therefore better protect the brain. Through a collaboration
of material designers, mechanical impact experts, and
neuroscientists, they will utilize a new 3D printing platform to
develop real-time responsive helmet technology.
The University of Miami, Miami, FL—The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, in
collaboration with the University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Neuro Kinetics, Inc., is
developing a portable eye-goggle that gathers and measures precise
eye movements. The I-Portal® PAS goggle will
assist in identifying mild traumatic brain injury in real time,
leading to more accurate concussion diagnosis. This advanced
research into traumatic brain injuries has received funding support
from the U.S. military at the Army Medical Research and Materials
Command and the Department of Defense Hearing Center of
Excellence.
University of Washington, Seattle, WA– Together with commercial partner,
VICIS, Inc., the UW team is developing a revolutionary football
helmet. The helmet boasts a novel impact absorbing structure
that mitigates forces likely to cause concussion. The
UW/VICIS team is built with thought-leading neurosurgeons,
mechanical engineers, and business leaders committed to using
science to protect athletes.
Viconic Sporting, Inc., Detroit, MI—Viconic's research is focused on
developing an underlayer for synthetic turf systems that will make
fields safer for those who play on them. Viconic's
technology is widely used for impact management in the automotive
and sporting industries and in the U.S. Military. Viconic will
further explore the relationship between optimized head impact
protection and the frequency of lower limb injuries in an effort to
provide the synthetic turf industry a tool to specify systems that
maximize player safety and minimize system costs.
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH—University
of New Hampshire researcher Erik
Swartz will lead a study to evaluate the effectiveness of a
helmet-less tackling training system called the
HuTT™ Technique. Proposed as an
intervention for head impact prevention in high school football,
this technique emphasizes proper tackling and blocking technique
using closely supervised drills where players participate without
their helmets and shoulder pads. UNH will investigate whether
regular implementation of the HuTT™ technique results
in player behavior change and reduces injury risk by reinforcing
proper technique when players go into full-equipment play.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell
said, "Each of these seven winners will help advance the science
towards our shared goal of making sports safer. New
materials, equipment designs and technology breakthroughs will
better protect athletes, no matter what sport they play. We
are looking forward to supporting their next stages of
development."
Under Armour Founder and CEO Kevin
Plank said, "By partnering with the NFL and GE, we have
created a dynamic forum with the Head Health Challenge II
that energizes people to join our pursuit of
breakthrough solutions and empowers these innovators with
substantial financial support to fund their ideas."
For more information about the Head Health Challenge, including
information on the Challenge II judges, visit
www.headhealthchallenge.com.
Watch the winners' videos:
Army Research Laboratory:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRE0UtnnqJQ
Emory University and Georgia Institute of Technology:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3oalhVkd3bQ
UCLA and Architected Materials,
Inc.: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkjZdbKMviI
The University of Miami Miller
School of Medicine, University of
Pittsburgh School of Medicine and Neuro Kinetics, Inc:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dmICd4lJ9A
University of Washington and
VICIS, Inc.: www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOhaicBRj9c
Viconic Sporting, Inc.:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nOx_28nIDY
University of New Hampshire:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiLvd2-SxXc
About Under Armour, Inc.
Under Armour
(NYSE: UA), the originator of performance footwear, apparel
and equipment, revolutionized how athletes across the world dress.
Designed to make all athletes better, the brand's innovative
products are sold worldwide to athletes at all levels. Under
Armour's wholly owned subsidiary, MapMyFitness, powers one of the
world's largest Connected Fitness communities. The Under Armour
global headquarters is in Baltimore,
Maryland. For further information, please visit the
Company's website at www.uabiz.com.
About The National Football League
Throughout its history, the NFL has made the health and safety of
its players a priority. This commitment extends to football played
at all ages, as well as other sports. At the youth level, the NFL's
partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and
the league's support for USA
Football, including the Heads Up Football initiative, helps
parents, coaches, clinicians and athletes understand the signs and
symptoms of head injuries. The league has successfully advocated
for the passage of youth concussion laws in all 50 states. Through
funding for medical studies, including a $30
million grant to the National Institutes of Health for
medical research; collaboration with the military on research and
recognizing and reporting potential head injuries; and the work of
the NFL's medical committees, the NFL is committed to supporting
and advancing science that will have an impact beyond football.
With a continued emphasis on improved equipment, rules changes, and
in-game policies, the NFL fosters a culture that promotes health
and safety at every level of the game.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things
that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on
the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and
home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and
helping to cure the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For
more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
SOURCE Under Armour