Research Activity

The Snell Memorial Foundation has been actively conducting and supporting research to understand the nature and severity of head and brain injury and to increase head impact protection in such activities as bicycling, motorcycling, racing and other non-motorized recreational activities. Basic studies of injury mechanism and protection, as well as field research related to injury severity and causation have been undertaken.

Research support is world-wide, extending from bicyclist injuries in China, to basic modeling and design of an improved anthropomorphic dummy head and neck conducted in the Netherlands, and Germany. Other studies by United States universities, medical and injury prevention centers, and private research organizations have involved basic research in biomechanics and head injury epidemiology, 3-D child head anthropometry, helmet fit research, and seat belt restraining design effects on the body.

In progress are long term studies of the sequelae of head injury in young bicyclists, evaluation of helmet materials, and basic head and brain biomechanics and injury mechanisms. In-house studies are also part of this over all program. The following is a list of recent research projects completed or in progress.

Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A 3-D DATABASE OF HEAD AND FACIAL ANTHROPOMETRY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Principal Investigator: Bruce Bradtmiller, Ph.D.
Organization: Anthropology Research Project, Inc. Yellow Spring, Ohio Date: July 1992 - February 1995
Title: HEAD IMPACT ATTENUATION CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN SURROGATES

Principal Investigator: Anthony Sances, Jr, Ph.D.
Organization: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date: January 1993 - April 1995
Title: OMNI-DIRECTIONAL NECK DEVELOPMENT

Principal Investigator: Jac Wismans, Ph.D.
Organization: TNO Road-Vehicles Research Institute, The Netherlands
Date: April 1993 - October 1995
Title: INJURY TO BICYCLISTS AND MOTOR SCOOTER RIDERS IN WUHAN. THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Principal Investigator: Prof. Susan Baker
Organization: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
Date: October 1993 - September 1994
Title: HEAD INJURIES IN BICYCLING AND INFORMAL RECREATION

Principal Investigator: Prof. Susan Baker
Organization: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
Date: April 1993 -July 1994
Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A FIT MODEL AND ANTHROPOMORPHIC FIT TEST PROCEDURES

Principal Investigator: Bruce Bradtmiller, Ph.D.
Organization: Anthropology Research Project, Inc. Yellow Spring, Ohio
Date: May 1994 - December 1995
Title: A STUDY OF LOAD LIMITING LOOPS AND ASYMMETRICAL LAP BELT LOADING AND THEIR EFFECT ON AUTOMOBILE OCCUPANTS

Principal Investigator: William H. Muzzy, III
Organization: ARCCA, Inc., Richboro, Pennsylvania
Date: August 1994 - March 1996
Title: HELMET MATERIALS EVALUATION (Not Completed 3/3/2000)

Principal Investigator: Rita Boggs, Ph.D.
Organization: American Research and Testing, Inc., Gardena, California
Date: October 1994- October 1996
Title: DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL DATA OF THE HEAD II. MASS, CENTER OF GRAVITY AND MOMENTS OF INERTIA HUMAN HEAD-NECK ASSEMBLIES

Principal Investigator: Dr. rer. nat. G. Beier
Organization: Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Munich, Germany
Date: May 1995 - May 1996
Title: THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND SEVERITY OF BICYCLE INJURIES

Principal Investigator: Frederick P. Rivara, M.D., M.P.H., Diane Thompson, M.S., Robert S. Thompson, M.D.
Organization: Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
Date: April 1992 - March 1996
Title: SEQUELAE OF HEAD INJURY IN YOUNG BICYCLISTS - PHASE I

Principal Investigator: Prof. Susan Raker
Organization: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
Date: April 1995 -June 1997