RESCUE-RACER: Version 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Research Evaluating Sports ConcUssion Events – Rapid Assessment of Concussion and Evidence for Return
IRAS ID
231314
Contact name
Stephen Kellleher
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridge University NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Cambridge
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Almost one million patients a year are diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury or concussion in UK A&E Departments. The most common cause is involvement in a road traffic collision and the third most common is sports participation. Concussion is becoming increasingly common in motorsport, where concussed competitors may remain in control of a potentially-lethal vehicle. Concussion causes a variety of symptoms including headache, visual disturbance and memory/concentration problems. It is currently diagnosed by clinical assessment but this is difficult; symptoms can be caused by other conditions and there is no diagnostic test (blood or scan) that gives an answer.
RESCUE-RACER investigates concussed motorsports participants by assessing symptoms, tests of vision, thinking/memory and brain imaging, as well as analysis of saliva. Participants are assessed at baseline (CArBON) and post-injury (CARS). Where possible, CARS assessments will be completed immediately after the injury, acutely and as the driver recovers. Where available, we will also analyse head impact data from in-car technology.
Eligible CArBON participants will be competitive motorsports drivers in the TOCA series, a UK motorsports package which includes six semi/professional race series. Eligible CARS participants will have sustained a potentially concussive event during motorsport activity, referred from TOCA or Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
In the short-term, a new diagnostic tool will be trialled to assess its accuracy and cost effectiveness for identifying motorsport concussion. The long-term results of RESCUE-RACER will be used to predict the recovery rate from concussion, to create guidelines for return to race decisions and to translate findings to general road use and sport.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/EE/0141
Date of REC Opinion
17 Aug 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion