UCLan professor and consultant recognised for concussion research

7 August 2018

Prestigious appointment by Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

A senior dentistry lecturer and consultant from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has been recognised for his pioneering research into concussion caused by sport.

Douglas Hammond, Senior Lecturer and Consultant in Maxillo-Facial Surgery from the School of Dentistry, has been made a Visiting Professor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in honour of his work in this field.

Mr Hammond, who also works at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, will work with colleagues at the RCSI to continue his five-year research into the long and short-term effects of concussion caused by sport. This will build on his existing work with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the Rugby Football League and the Rugby Football Union, with which he has built strong relationships and research. Mr Hammond is looking at ways to improve management of concussed players and their rehabilitation and is also supervising four UCLan PhD students in tackling a wide variety of topics associated with concussion.

"It’s a very prestigious appointment and something I’m very honoured and humbled to receive. The RCSI has an established concussion research team and I will work with them on what will hopefully be some high impact studies."

The 42-year-old who lives in Southport said: “It’s a very prestigious appointment and something I’m very honoured and humbled to receive. The RCSI has an established concussion research team and I will work with them on what will hopefully be some high impact studies.”

Mr Hammond’s appointment will be initially for three years with a view to extending it. The well-respected consultant has worked at the University for two and half years after previously lecturing at the University of Birmingham.

He added: “I’ve had a lot of support from the Head of UCLan’s School of Dentistry, Dr Angela Magee and my colleague Professor Richard Welbury. This appointment is recognition of the important research I do into concussion, alongside Professor Tony Belli from the University of Birmingham. I am looking forward to taking up the post and collaborating with some of the best in the field.”

Mr Hammond will begin the post on the 1 October.

Douglas Hammond
Douglas Hammond