Overview
The Concussion Research Laboratory in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh (UPitt) School of Medicine is part of the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program directed by Dr. Michael (Micky) Collins Executive/Clinical Director and Dr. Anthony Kontos, Research Director. The program is the premier concussion clinical and research program in the United States, with over 25 faculty and staff at eight sites in Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania and approximately 20,000 patient visits/8,000 unique patients annually including over 1,000 out of region patients from across the country and around the world.
Our Focus
Our research program continues to be at the leading edge of concussion clinical research and supports our program’s commitment to translating research into better clinical care for our patients. Our research is funded by the National Institutes for Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DoD) Congressionally-Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research, and other foundations and private donors. Our research focuses on concussion clinical and observational trials, biomarkers, neuroimaging, and long term brain health, and involves populations including pediatric, military, sports, and older adults. To learn more, click the link below.
Assessment & Treatment
Knowing what symptoms, physical abilities, and cognitive weaknesses an individual is experiencing after a concussion is important, as it can lead to a more targeted treatment plan to improve recovery trajectories.
Special Populations
Experiences of brain injuries are not limited to a single group. Athletes and military service members can be at higher risks of injury, so better safety and return-to-work protocols are essential.
Brain Health
Long term exposure to head impacts is still in it's research infancy, with the effects still unknown or highly debated. One goal of our lab is to improve methods of evaluating exposure and brain health outcomes over time.
At the Forefront of Brain Health Education
UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program’s “Mark R. Lovell, Ph.D.” 2025-2026 Grand Rounds Series
The University of Pittsburgh Concussion Research Lab and the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program are committed to discovering and informing on effective clinical assessments and treatment for traumatic brain injury. Research in this field is ever evolving, and our aim is to educate on new and adaptive measures that ourselves and investigators in the field are studying.
Every year beginning in the fall and through spring, our group hosts the UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program’s “Mark R. Lovell, Ph.D.” Grand Rounds Series. These presentations occur once a month for 1 hour, both in-person at the UPMC Freddie Fu Sports Medicine Center and remotely through a provided Microsoft Teams link. We invite speakers to present on their field of research, and allow for attendees to ask questions.
The next meeting will be held on February 19th, 2026 7am EST
If you are interested in attending these remote sessions, click here to be added to our listserv!
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