FOCUS Concussion Study Launch

It’s an honour to announce that AxialBridge has officially launched The FOCUS Study, in collaboration with Ulster University (recently named Times Higher Education University of the Year).

This study explores the feasibility of digital app technology to assess concussion history and its impact among current and retired professional, semi-professional, and elite athletes. Through this work, we aim to better understand concussion’s long-term effects and engage players and stakeholders to inform future research.

🎉 We kicked off with a successful launch event at Ulster University in Belfast, where rugby, football and Gaelic football players, alumni, and stakeholders came together to share insights. The event highlighted both the science and the powerful personal stories of athletes navigating concussion in sport. Here's a link to our study launch event: https://lnkd.in/gWGD9qPJ

📱 A central component of this study is the Concussion Connect app, currently available in the UK and EU. The app was developed through a partnership between DIGITAL (a Canadian co-investment fund) and RxPx (leaders in patient-centric, AI-supported mobile technology). Designed to enhance research participation, the app leverages AI to strengthen engagement, streamline recruitment, support data collection, and improve participant retention.

🏉 The AI Clinical Buddy initiative has created a unique opportunity for RxPx to integrate its expertise in AI with the needs of research collaborators such as AxialBridge. This partnership addresses the growing digitisation of research and clinical trials by offering scalable, personalised support through an AI Buddy—tailored to meet the specific needs of research participants and trial design.

🇨🇦 We’re especially proud to share our new partnership with the Canadian Rugby Players Association. This collaboration is deeply meaningful as a Canadian company supported by a Canadian grant.

✅ Recruitment is still ongoing, and the study will run through the end of October 2025. For those who are interested in participating or have further questions, please contact the primary investigator, Dr Mark Matthews
m.matthews@ulster.ac.uk.

👉 Learn more about how we’re working to advance concussion research, support athletes, and shape the future of brain health in sport. If you’re willing to participate, please see this link
https://lnkd.in/gXRiDJDx

This study has received ethical approval from the School of Sport & Exercise Science Research Ethics Filter Committee (SESRI-25-017).

hashtag#ConcussionResearch hashtag#DigitalHealth hashtag#SportsScience hashtag#Rugby hashtag#ClinicalResearch hashtag#AthleteHealth hashtag#longtermoutcomes

Jaspreet K Grewal, MBA Sabrina Ramkellawan Dr Kyle Ferguson Le Roy Dowey Joann Rhodes MBA Tim Brundle