WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute researcher appointed to NFL committee

Hayden Giuliani Dewig, Ph.D., a research scientist at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) Concussion & Brain Injury Center, was recently appointed as an observer to the National Football League (NFL) Head, Neck and Spine Committee.

The NFL Medical Committee Observer program is designed to assist in the professional development of the next generation of the League’s medical researchers, Medical Committee/Task Force members, and consultants. The Head, Neck and Spine Committee, which includes both independent and NFL-affiliated medical professionals, focuses on neurological issues regarding the health and safety of NFL athletes.

Through these committees, specialists volunteer their time to explore groundbreaking research and make recommendations for how the League can continually improve the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries, as well as invest in scientific research to promote player health and safety.

“The Head, Neck & Spine Committee is most responsible for the NFL Concussion Protocol,” Javier Cárdenas, M.D., professor and chief of the Division of Sports Neurology at the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute Concussion and Brain Injury Center and vice chair of the NFL Head, Neck and Spine Committee, said. “Members include international experts on concussion who conduct and review the latest research, publications, and emerging technology for concussion diagnosis and treatment. Dr. Dewig’s exemplary background and experience set her far apart from the other nominees. Her knowledge and skillset will be valuable assets to the committee, and I am confident that Hayden will proudly represent the RNI in her new role.”

Dewig joined the RNI in 2022, primarily examining emerging issues within military populations as it relates to the overarching visions of the RNI, including cognitive function and fit for duty following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and musculoskeletal injury. She received her Ph.D. in human movement science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her dissertation project investigated the feasibility of workload monitoring within law enforcement officers and its relationship to injury risk factors and predictors of job performance.

To learn more about the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, visit WVUMedicine.org/RNI.

About the WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute

The WVU Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute improves lives by pioneering advances in brain health. With the latest technologies, an ecosystem of partners, and a truly integrated approach, the RNI is making tangible progress in its goal to combat public health challenges ranging from addiction to Alzheimer’s, benefiting people in West Virginia, neighboring states, and beyond. Learn more about the RNI’s first-in-the-world clinical trials and the top caliber experts joining in support of this mission by visiting WVUMedicine.org/RNI.

Media Inquiries: Brittany Murray, Senior Marketing Strategist, 304-293-0937, brittany.murray2@wvumedicine.org.