In 2016, Georgia Tech President G.P. “Bud” Peterson became chair of the NCAA Board of Governors, the NCAA’s highest governing authority. In April, the board increased its emphasis on the importance of safeguarding student-athlete health and safety by endorsing nine areas that the NCAA’s Sport Science Institute has identified as priorities, including concussion, cardiac health, and mental health.

Michelle LaPlaca, associate professor in Georgia Tech’s and Emory's Department of Biomedical Engineering, has been researching TBI for more than 20 years. She says whether the injury is mild or severe, it’s difficult to figure out what's going on in the brain and how that contributes to function. Researchers study TBI in several ways: at the cellular level by mechanically injuring cells and observing how they break down; they also use computer-generated simulations and animal models. There’s always one thing missing, though: how to connect all these levels of research to human TBI.

GT Faculty/Staff lead:  Dr. Michelle LaPlaca, Biomedical Engineering

"Innovator of the Game" 30 second video:  https://video.wmt.media/embed/cb06368a-6e99-4ad4-903e-ea4de7accd44