Funded projects

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  Dr Joshua McGeown

  Mātai Medical Research Institute

  Philip Wrightson Fellowship - $263,984 - Funding Round: 2025 A

  Brain health in collision sports: Linking early-life changes to long-term clinical outcomes using multimodal neuroimaging

  Many athletes in collision sports suffer repeated head impacts, which may lead to brain damage and higher risk for neurodegenerative disease. This damage is often “invisible” because there is no noticeable bruising or swelling, and standard medical imaging doesn't show abnormalities. This research project uses clinical data and advanced brain scans from both active and retired athletes to track how head impacts affect the brain over time. In collaboration with the Former Athlete Brain Health Research program in Australia, this fellowship aims to understand whether early brain changes persist, progress, or recover. By studying both active and retired athletes, the aim is to identify early signs of brain damage and develop better ways to prevent and treat injuries.
  
  Mentors: Associate Professor Samantha Holdsworth, Mātai Medical Research Institute; Associate Professor Andrew Gardner, University of Sydney

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  Dr Josh McGeown

  Mātai Medical Research Institute

  Travel grant - $3,956 - Funding Round: 2025 A

  International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) World Congress

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  Dr Josh McGeown

  Mātai Medical Research Institute

  Travel grant - $544 - Funding Round: 2024 B

  Australasian Winter Conference for Brain Research (AWCBR)