Thomas M. Talavage, Ph.D.
Department Head and Professor
Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering and Applied Science
University of Cincinnati
Title: SUB-CONCUSSION: The Story and Legacy of the Study of Head Injuries in American Football
Abstract: The first confirmation of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players came in 2009, followed shortly (2010) by the finding that nearly half of all high school athletes participating in American football were experiencing changes in brain function (and, later, chemistry and structure) that could have long-lasting effects on their health. The controversy regarding these consequences has persisted for well over 15 years, with science, academic politics, and commercial interests competing for dominance while young athletes participating in American football, soccer, and other collision-based sports continue to be impaired by, or even die from, what are preventable injuries. This presentation will explore the findings, the controversy, and the future of studies intended to allow athletes to continue to participate in the sports they love while reducing the risks of life-altering trauma.
Bio: Thomas M. Talavage (BS, MS Purdue University; PhD Harvard–MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology) is Professor and Head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He previously served (1998-2020) as faculty at Purdue University in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering. He has been recognized nationally for his teaching and his research in the area of asymptomatic brain trauma.