Sports Donors Commit $65-Million for Concussion Studies

The White House announced $65-million in pledges from sports-related donors Wednesday to help fund a raft of efforts aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment of mild traumatic brain injuries in young athletes, the Los Angeles Times writes.

The NCAA and the NFL have pledged $30-million and $25-million, respectively, to support a variety of clinical and scientific efforts. Steve Tisch, a Hollywood executive and co-owner of the New York Giants, is giving $10-million to the University of California at Los Angeles to develop a national tracking system for concussions in youth sports.

Reports about the possible long-term health effects of repeated brain impact have raised parents’ concerns about letting their children take part in organized sports, White House spokesman Jay Carney said in outlining the efforts. President Obama weighed in on the issue last year, saying that if he had a son, he would not want him to play pro football.