Pittsburgh, February 23, 2022 -- The Joseph C. Maroon Fund/Chuck Noll Foundation has been established by the Neurosurgery Research and Education Foundation (NREF) to fund research in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of brain injury in sports. This fund honors Dr. Maroon for his pioneering dedication to research and education in the prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries to the brain. Donations will help fund further breakthroughs and is a fitting tribute to Dr. Maroon and his life’s work.
Chuck Noll is well known as the National Football League Hall of Fame coach who helped turn the Pittsburgh Steelers into an NFL powerhouse, leading the franchise to a remarkable four Super Bowl wins in six years. Less known is Coach Noll’s critical role in helping to dramatically increase the understanding of concussions, and how he pioneered important changes to testing concussions in athletes.
Coach Noll’s commitment to player safety and his demand for objective data for return to play ultimately led Dr. Maroon to co-develop ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing), a neurocognitive test that remains one of the primary tools for assessing sports-related concussions—and return to play—in all contact sports.
Thanks to Dr. Maroon—and other investigators supported by the Chuck Noll Foundation and the NREF—much has been learned about concussions and sports-related brain injuries, but more research is needed.
The Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research was established in 2018 and is focused on advancing research initiatives related to the diagnosis and treatment of injuries to the brain occurring primarily from sports activities.
The Joseph C. Maroon Fund/Chuck Noll Foundation is part of the NREF's 'Honor Your Mentor Funds' program, designed to celebrate the incredible individuals and organizations who have advanced neurosurgery, and to give those involved in neurosurgery an opportunity to honor a mentor who helped them succeed.
Donations to the The Joseph C. Maroon Fund/Chuck Noll Foundation will help open doors for the next generation of neurosurgeons conducting research on concussion and brain injury in sports.
To make a tax-deductible donation, visit the Joseph C. Maroon Fund /Chuck Noll Foundation web page. Donations can also be forwarded to NREF, 7661 Eagle Way, Chicago, IL 60678-1076. Please designate the Maroon Fund/CNF when mailing your donations.