NEW YORK - The NFL has pledged $30 million for medical research to the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health.
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday the funding to the NIH, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is considered one of the world's foremost medical research centers.
The research is designed to benefit athletes and the general population, including members of the military, Goodell said.
Potential areas of research under the grant include the brain, specifically chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), concussion management and treatment, and the understanding of the relationship between traumatic brain injury and late-life neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer's disease.
"We hope this grant will help accelerate the medical community's pursuit of pioneering research to enhance the health of athletes past, present and future," Goodell said.
Dr. Stephanie James, NIH acting executive director, expects the grant have a positive effect on people in all walks of life.
"We are grateful for the NFL's generosity," James said. "The research to be funded by this donation will accelerate scientific discovery that will benefit athletes and the general public alike."
The distribution of funds from the grant will be governed by federal law and policy applicable to NIH-funded research. The NFL will have no early or special access to scientific study data.
