Cleveland Browns owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam announced a $20 million donation on Tuesday to establish a new sports health innovation center in Cleveland.
The University Hospitals Haslam Sports Innovation Center will be led by James E. Voos, M.D., chair of UH Department of Orthopedic Surgery, president-elect of the NFL Physician’s Society and head team physician for the Browns.
“This investment takes us into the lab and onto the field. And it further allows us to be involved from peewee to pro,” he says. “There are so many ways to make the most of this collaboration, not just in our region but across the U.S.”
When digging a little deeper, the Haslams’ gift essentially does three things. First, the financial investment enables the center to attract top talent and experts across complementary fields. Being able to recruit leading researchers, practitioners and engineers to Ohio can certainly push the boundaries of health advancement. Second, cutting-edge technology and research infrastructure are essential to support new ideas and drive advancements in the sports industry at all levels. This is crucial to support new ideas and the future of sports and the greater community. And last, but maybe most importantly, the funds are designed to be perpetual. In this instance that means revenue earned from commercialization of ideas or products can be reinvested back into further research and development, producing a self-sustaining cycle of growth of the center.
Innovation Already In Action
While many find mission-based investments aspirational, the UH body of work has many proof points already in play, with Dr. Voos involved in or overseeing a number of studies and trials.
“Dr. Voos’ track record speaks for itself,” Dee Haslam says. “We came together and realized it was our mutual responsibility to combine resources to move science forward.”
There are projects already underway involving everything from biologics and regenerative clinical trials to testing of advanced surgical tools and technologies. In fact, University Hospitals’ Drusinsky Sports Medicine Institute is one of the few U.S. institutions to obtain FDA approval to multiply and grow stem cells for arthritis treatment. Researchers are even conducting assessments with wearable tech that monitor muscle tissue oxygen saturation and workload to prevent injury before it happens or monitor the rate of healing.
The UH sports portfolio also includes the likes of arthroscopy wireless cameras for use during surgery. Given the wide-ranging scope of work in existence, it’s not a stretch to think by leveraging cutting-edge technology and research, the Haslam Sports Innovation Center can develop new tools and training methods that not only optimize athletic performance at all levels of play, but also prevent injury and improve recovery.
While there are always challenges associated with breakthrough technologies, including regulatory and scientific hurdles, the potential impact of navigating those obstacles may be far greater than just return on research investment. In this partnership that is especially true given that high schools, colleges and other organizations are already working with UH to test and monitor equipment and ideas.
Broader Impact For Community And Health
The Haslams are known for philanthropy and contend that education is the top focus of their efforts to help families, and thereby communities, reach their full potential. And that focus carries over into the UH Haslam Center. “I think of this more as a mission than as a job,” Dr. Voos says of his role. “Healthy athletes create healthy communities, whether we’re talking about physical health or mental well-being.”
Dee Haslam agrees. “We look at our role as messengers and advocates whether that be through sport or education. For example, it’s shown that children engaged in sports miss less school and are better learners.”
What they are essentially saying is that by investing in sports medicine, the depth and breadth of impact can be felt in many ways. For example, schools and youth in the region can participate in activities and learning while advancing science based on their play. The same is true for college athletes and even the pros. On the other end of the spectrum, the information learned from the lab and the community can create best practices and new technologies that can be used on those who may need surgery or are looking to be more active with less chronic pain.
When asked what ultimate success looks like to him, Dr. Voos says, “We want to lead by example on how to be a true, fully integrated partnership. And ultimately, we want to see our developments and best practices be taken up by others, whether that be other teams in the NFL or improvements in helping the average person recover from injury.” He then added, “Admittedly, I personally would also like to see the Browns win a Super Bowl.”
Although no promises can be made about the Cleveland Browns’ chances of a Super Bowl title or which startups, academic institutions or diagnostic companies might partner to bring the next big revolution on the field, there are many reasons to be hopeful about the new center. From designing more protective equipment to implementing advanced injury prevention strategies to improving surgery results and recovery time, the center’s initiatives can potentially have a significant impact on athlete well-being that both trickle up and down the health ecosystem.
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