Understanding how sex differences affect concussion and brain injury
Official title: Biomechanical Basis of Sex Differences in Concussion and Subconcussion
Funded at Worcester Polytechnic Institute · NIH-11098659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how men and women’s brains react differently to concussions and minor head injuries, using data from ice hockey players to help create better ways to prevent and treat these injuries based on whether someone is male or female.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Worcester Polytechnic Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $208,402 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS136884-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11098659 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include male and female athletes, particularly ice-hockey players, who have experienced concussions or subconcussions.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced any form of brain injury or concussion may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how male and female brains respond differently to concussions and subconcussions by using advanced computational models. It aims to create detailed brain injury models that account for these sex differences, focusing on the impact of head injuries on brain strains and axonal damage. By analyzing data from male and female ice-hockey players, the study will correlate brain strain with biological markers to better understand the extent of brain injuries. The findings could lead to improved strategies for preventing and treating concussions based on sex-specific needs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to tailored concussion prevention and treatment strategies that better protect individuals based on their sex.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been some research on sex differences in concussion, this approach using subject-specific models is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ji, Songbai — Worcester Polytechnic Institute
- Study coordinator: Ji, Songbai
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.