Christ Church DPhil student leads pioneering research into sports concussion
A Christ Church graduate student is at the forefront of a groundbreaking study aiming to transform how sports-related concussion is diagnosed and understood – research that has recently attracted national media attention.
Dr Sheikh Momin, a DPhil student in Clinical Neurosciences at the University of Oxford’s Podium Institute, is contributing to the Podium Multimodal Concussion Study – a world-first project delivered in collaboration with Gloucester Rugby and Gloucester–Hartpury Women’s Rugby Football Club.
The project, which has featured on the BBC and TNT Sports, brings advanced medical imaging directly pitchside. For the first time, a mobile high-strength (3-Tesla) MRI scanner is being used at rugby stadia, enabling players with confirmed or suspected concussion to undergo immediate scanning alongside physiological monitoring and the collection of blood and saliva samples.
This innovative approach aims to identify objective biomarkers of concussion, an area that has historically relied heavily on subjective assessment. Dr Momin’s research focuses specifically on analysing blood and saliva samples to uncover measurable indicators of brain injury.
A distinctive feature of the study is its inclusion of almost equal numbers of male and female elite athletes – a rarity in concussion research, which has traditionally focused on male participants. The findings are expected to improve understanding of the mechanisms behind concussion and support the development of more reliable diagnostic tools.
In the longer term, the research could have applications far beyond elite sport. More than one million people attend A&E with head injuries each year in England and Wales, and the identification of accurate biomarkers could help clinicians assess and manage these cases more effectively. The team also hopes to validate lower-cost technologies that could be used in grassroots and youth sport.
Dr Momin, a neurosurgery resident currently undertaking training in the West Midlands, completed medical school at University College London, including an integrated BSc in Neuroscience, and has previously conducted research at the National Hospital for Neurology & Neurosurgery (Queen Square). He plans to return to clinical training following completion of his DPhil, with the aim of pursuing a career as an academic neurosurgeon.
Reflecting on his experience, Dr Momin said: ‘I’ve had the privilege of interacting with World Cup-winning rugby players, TV journalists and sport governing bodies through this study – so it is safe to say that this is probably not a typical DPhil journey! It’s been hard work, but ultimately a fulfilling experience. A big thanks to the Podium Institute and the College for their support with my DPhil so far.’
