Mary Seau launches her chronic traumatic encephalopathy foundation to aid in research of head trauma.
SAN DIEGO–Mary Seau, sister to the late NFL star Junior Seau, announced the launch of the Mary Seau Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Foundation, a nonprofit that aims to raise funds to aid in the research of the long-term effects from repetitive head impacts sustained during contact sports, military conflicts or other potentially hazardous environments.
Teaming up with Boston University Research, the nonprofit hopes to raise funds that will be used to develop imaging techniques to correlate pathological changes and abnormalities so that high-tech imaging tools can be used to screen the presence of early CTE.
“I’m incredibly passionate about this very important and prominent issue we’re facing today. I’m not only doing this for my brother, but I want to help prevent similar tragedies from happening to other families,” said Founder Mary Seau. “I envision this organization to be the recognized leader in creating an environment that brings together physicians, patients and research groups to identify the root causes and, ultimately, cure the effects of CTE.”
Leading the research is Dr. Ann McKee, Professor of Neurology and Pathology at Boston University School of Medicine, Director of Neuropathology Core and Chief Neuropathologist for the National Veterans Affairs Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Brain Bank. Dr. McKee’s research interests center on the neuropathological alterations of neurodegenerative diseases, with a primary focus on the role of tau protein, axonal injury, trauma, vascular injury and neurodegeneration. Dr. McKee’s work has been essential in establishing the clinical and pathological spectrum of trauma induced neurodegenerative disease, including CTE and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
In addition, Chris Nowinski, co-founder and executive director of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, is heavily involved in the foundation. Nowinski also serves on the NFL Players Association Mackey-White TBI Research Committee, Ivy League Concussion Committee, Positive Coaching Alliance National Advisory Board and is a consultant to Major League Lacrosse. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Behavioral Neuroscience at Boston University School of Medicine. Author of “Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis,” Nowinski and his team have been featured in various national print outlets such as the New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, Time Magazine, ESPN Magazine and the New Yorker.
The nonprofit will host its inaugural 5.5K Seau CTE Strides May 7 at Guajome Regional Park in Oceanside.
The Mary Seau Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Foundation is a registered 501 (c)(3) that aims to raise funds to aid in the research of the long-term effects from repetitive head impacts sustained during contact sports, military conflicts or other potentially hazardous environments. To learn more, visit http://www.msctefoundation.org.
