U.S. AIR FORCE/SENIOR AIRMAN JULIANNE SHOWALTERFollowing the release of a study earlier this week that found chronic traumatic encephalopathy in 110 out of 111 former National Football League (NFL) players, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has announced it will allow a funding agreement with the league to lapse with more than half of the money unspent.
ESPN reports that nearly five years ago, the NFL made a $30 million donation to the NIH for research on the relationship between brain disease and playing football. But the relationship between the two has been fraught; according to a congressional report released last year, the “NFL did not carry out its commitment to respect the science and prioritize health and safety,” but instead “improperly attempted to influence the grant selection process at NIH.”
In particular, the NFL, which had veto power over the grants resulting from its donation, objected to a major award to a group led by Boston University neuroscientist Robert Stern, ESPN reports. That left NIH to try to cover much of the grant with other funds.
With the funding agreement about ...
