The University of West London (UWL) has backed a campaign to reduce the risks of players of all ages and all levels of sport receiving life-changing brain injuries on the field.

The University is encouraging people to get involved in a ‘Hakathon’ later this month that will bring together the brightest minds in healthcare, sport, and technology to come up with solutions to prevent, diagnose and treat head injuries and concussion.

Run by Love of the Game, a community of athletes, fans, and experts, the two-day Hakathon hopes to create innovations that have real world applications that will improve the lives of those that love and play sport.

Laurence Geller CBE, Campaign Chairman and Chancellor of UWL, said:

As a keen ex-rugby player, sports lover and dementia campaigner, who has seen first-hand the debilitating effects of dementia, witnessing the impact of concussion and other head-related injuries on players of all ages across all sports is deeply concerning –for them as individuals, their families and also for the future of sport more broadly.

Love of the Game is about bringing together my passion for sport and dementia research to drive awareness in and funding of specialist scientific, technological and medical solutions that will help prevent, diagnose, and treat those suffering. We have an opportunity to unite the best from the worlds of sport, science, business and government to tackle the most existential threat to our sports in a generation. Through Love of the Game we will protect our players and protect our games.

Nigel Huddleston MP, Minister for Sport and Tourism said:

This ground-breaking Hackathon is a wonderfully creative innovation aimed at finding solutions to prevent, diagnose and treat head injuries and concussion across all levels of sport. The Government recognises the importance of this issue and we continue to work with sports bodies to build on the positive work that is already taking place on concussions in sport.

The Hackathon is a fantastic example of creative tech-innovators collaborating to make sport safer for players and I look forward to receiving the results of their good work.

Professor Peter John, Vice-Chancellor of UWL, who will be judging the competition said:

It will be inspiring to see academics, developers, scientists and sports lovers coming together to make a real difference to sport safety.

We’re also encouraging people to back the campaign and to commit to working with us in the future. It’s great see local clubs like Brentford FC pledging their support and doing their bit for the future of sport.

Activities to address the issue of head injuries in sport link back to ongoing research from UWL’s Geller Institute of Ageing and Memory where researchers are leading on dementia care and studies.  

Share or find out more about the campaign, and how you can offer your support.