Researchers from Spectator’s groundbreaking concussion project partner with CFL Alumni Association

Researchers who were part of The Spectator's groundbreaking 2017 concussion project have signed an agreement with the Canadian Football League Alumni Association to provide neurological analyses for retired players.

VoxNeuro, a startup company that came out of McMaster University, will be offering neurophysiological testing and cognitive health assessments for members of the CFLAA as well as other interested communities.

VoxNeuro, which has its headquarters at McMaster Innovation Park, was founded by John Connolly, a McMaster professor and the Senator William McMaster Chair in Cognitive Neuroscience, who specializes in electroencephalogram (EEG) analysis and concussions.

As a sports fan with a particular love for football, I am really thrilled about VoxNeuro's partnership with the CFLAA," Connolly said. Seeing my life's work positively support individuals in their brain health journey, and marrying these two passions of mine, is a true honour."

Connolly was part of a team of McMaster researchers who worked with The Spectator to produce the 2017 Collision Course series, which showed the shocking effects that concussions have on the brains of football players.

Using sophisticated brain imaging techniques, The Spectator team showed disturbing differences in brain functions between nearly two dozen retired CFL players and a group of similarly-aged men who had no histories of concussions.

For some of the retired players, the electrical responses in their brains were no different than responses seen in some types of coma patients.

The CFLAA is committed to provide health and wellness support to our members and to the community we serve," stated Leo Ezerins, executive director of the alumni association. We can only do that by aligning with like minded partners. VoxNeuro and its team are such a partner."

VoxNeuro's trademarked health assessments will help identify any cognitive deficiencies and provide objective data to help direct health care plans.

VoxNeuro also recently signed a collaboration agreement with one of the world's leading rehabilitation institutes. The company will be conducting neurophysiological testing and cognitive health assessments of concussion patients at the Hull-Ellis Concussion and Research Clinic, which is part of the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute.

Steve Buist is a Hamilton-based investigative reporter at The Spectator. Reach him via email: sbuist@thespec.com