Drake Foundation

The Drake Foundation is a UK-based non-profit organization that provides funding for independent scientific research on traumatic brain injuries. Founded by James Drake in 2014, the Foundation has invested over £2.2 million into research projects that focus on the long-term health outcomes of sports-related head impacts.https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/23494/pdf/
==Research and projects==
The Foundation has funded research to study the link between head injuries and playing football and rugby. This research aims to provide an evidence-based understanding of the potential impacts of playing these sports on long-term brain health. The foundation has also extended its support to study the effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on brain health.
===Drake Rugby Biomarker Study===
The Drake Rugby Biomarker Study began at Saracens Rugby Club in 2015 and has since expanded to include players from other Premiership and Championship rugby union and rugby league teams. The study uses advanced neuroimaging techniques, cognitive testing, and the collection of blood, saliva, and urine samples to investigate the potential biomarkers of concussion injuries and any changes in brain health associated with playing elite rugby.
In 2021, the initial results from the neuroimaging wing of the study were published. These results showed that 23% of the elite rugby players in the study had abnormal changes to the white matter or vasculature of their brains, which was detected using advanced MRI scans.
===Drake IPV Study===
The Drake IPV Study is looking into how domestic abuse may affect neuroimaging and cognitive test data results, as well as any changes that may be linked to traumatic brain injury (TBI) exposure. The study compares these findings to those of a control group with no reported history of abuse. The research is being conducted by teams at Glasgow and Edinburgh Universities, including Professor Willie Stewart, who is known for his work on football and dementia.
===BRAIN Study===
With additional research support from UCL and Oxford University, the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Queen Mary University of London investigated the potential causal relationship between a history of concussion and neurodegenerative disease in retired rugby players. The study covered a sample of nearly 150 participants, who were former amateur high-level players over age of 50. The study was the first of its kind to focus on comprehensive measurements examining how the cognitive function of former players has been affected by the concussions suffered during their playing career and also the first to evaluate the effects of concussions on cognitive retention for many participants over the age of 75.
While the study's data could not confirm a causal relationship between the amount concussions sustained by the respondent and an increased likelihood of them experiencing neurologically clinical disease, the results did reveal that respondents classified as being both over the age of 75 who had suffered three concussions during their playing career were at significantly higher risk of suffering from neurological deficiency.
===The Drake Football Study===
The Drake Football Study is an in-depth investigation into the mental and physical health of professional footballers over time. It is the most comprehensive study to date on this topic and aims to improve the understanding of the long-term effects of playing professional football on health, with a particular focus on brain health. It is a long-term study that will follow players for at least 10 years.
The Drake Foundation is the founding funder of the study, which is also co-funded by FIFPRO, Amsterdam University, and Finland's Mehilainen NEO Hospital. The study has support from a number of players' unions across Europe and is also supported by Marco Van Basten.
===HEADING Study===
The HEADING Study is investigating the possible connection between a history of heading the ball inducing concussion and neurodegenerative diseases in retired football players. The study will involve surveying players over the age of 50 about their heading and concussion history and collecting data on their quality of life and social circumstances. A range of physical and cognitive tests will be conducted to assess their current health, including grip strength, memory, and reasoning tests. In addition, participants will undergo a neurological examination to look for signs of disease and provide blood samples for future analysis.
In January 2021, Gareth Southgate agreed to support the HEADING Study.
===Mixed pathologies, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, account for dementia in retired association football (soccer) players===
The research focused on exploring the possible connection between chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and the onset of dementia and motor impairments in former professional association football players who experienced repeated head impacts. Over a period spanning from 1980 to 2010, a group of 14 retired footballers diagnosed with dementia were regularly monitored until their passing. Throughout the study, comprehensive clinical data, details of their playing careers, and concussion histories were diligently recorded. Following the players' deaths, consent was obtained from the next-of-kin of six individuals for post-mortem brain examinations. The study, published in 2017, revealed significant findings: all six examined brains displayed signs of Alzheimer's disease, while four of them also exhibited indicators of CTE, as per the most recent consensus diagnostic criteria.Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes
Category:Non-profit organisations based in England
Category:Companies established in 2014