Name: Assistant Professor Tracey Covassin

Department: Athletic training and kinesiology

Type of research: Sports-related concussions

Date of research: Covassin has been doing this research for four years at five universities in three states, and said she plans to continue the research at MSU.

Basics of the project: Covassin uses a computer program called ImPACT to study and prevent concussions in student athletes.

Prior to any injuries, athletes take the software's base test, which measures verbal memory, reaction times and motor-processing skills in the brain, Covassin said.

About 2,000 MSU athletes have taken the base test, she said.

Covassin and other athletic trainers then can compare the results of the base test with a post test, which is given after an athlete suffers a concussion.

Concussions can happen when a person suffers a blow to the head, which sometimes results in a temporary loss of consciousness.

The second test measures the same basic abilities as the base test, and Covassin said differences in the amount of time it takes to complete the tasks can help determine if the athlete should continue playing.

Second Impact Syndrome can result if the athlete suffers a second concussion while still recovering from the first, and this can be fatal, Covassin said, adding that the software aims to prevent that.

Social impact of research: Covassin can protect athletes from Second Impact Syndrome by interpreting their test results on the ImPACT software.

"This provides an objective measure and you get the results immediately," she said. "Anything different (between the athletes' tests) indicates that they shouldn't go back."

Grants and funding: The software for ImPACT costs about $1,750 a year for universities, and Covassin said she sent in a grant proposal in mid-February to begin other research on sports-related injuries.