On November 13, 2015 an impressive group of scientists, legal scholars, ethicists, attorneys, physicians, sports figures, NFL representatives and other stakeholders gathered at the Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. District Courthouse in Phoenix, AZ to address the growing concern of concussive brain injuries. The event stood out in terms of discussion topics which ranged from the latest scientific review of concussive injury and treatment to Harry Carson‘s keynote — a very moving personal account of the physical and psychological injuries he sustained from football-related concussions. The conference planning committee included Hon. Roslyn Silver, a Senior U.S. District Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, Center GET Program Director, Professor Gary Marchant and Center Faculty Fellow, Professor Betsy Grey.
Of note, Grey and Marchant discussed the concussive injury epidemic in this week’s Arizona Republic. They observed that while concussions alter how the brain works, potentially producing life-long effects, revolutionary treatments resulting from innovative scientific research such as the identification of concussion-related biomarkers, should change the way concussive injuries are managed — for the better. Nonetheless, Grey and Marchant also acknowledged that technological advances in injury prevention and treatment invite the need to address novel concerns and lacking guidance from within our legal and policy systems.