Brain injuries to be researched

The US National Football League has joined GE, a world leader in medical imaging, in launching a $US60 million ($A59.07 million) research program aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries.

The four-year Head Health Initiative, guided by healthcare experts, aims to improve athlete concussion safety with innovations that could be used by soldiers as well as in society.

Part of the program in conjunction with sportswear maker Under Armour includes an innovation challenge program to start late this year with investments of up to $20 million for research and technology to better understand, diagnose and protect against brain injuries.

'Our knowledge of the brain is far behind that of nearly every other organ,' GE chairman Jeff Immelt said. 'With this initiative, we will advance our research and apply our learning to sports-related concussions, brain injuries suffered by members of the military and neurodegenerative diseases.'

The NFL has worked to reduce concussions and their impact on players by tougher penalties for blows to the head and mandatory evaluations before those hurt can return to the field after complaints from present and former players.

'The NFL has made tremendous progress in making the game safer and more exciting. But we know we have more work to do,' NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

'The launch of the innovation challenges puts us on an accelerated path to progress with experienced scientists, academics and entrepreneurs dedicated to developing game-changing technologies that will benefit athletes, the military and all members of society.'

The move comes seven weeks after the family of former 20-season NFL star linebacker Junior Seau filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the league for not doing more to protect players from head injuries.

Seau died last May aged 43 after shooting himself.

Post-mortem tests showed he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy as a result of concussions and other blows to the head taken during his career.

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Brain injuries to be researched