This year, researchers at the Department of Clinical Neurosciences are raising awareness in Cambridge on traumatic brain injury research and safety in partnership with the Cambridge City Mayor.

The campaign highlights the work of Professor Peter Hutchinson and his team. Peter is a specialist neurosurgeon and director of the NIHR HealthTech Research Centre in Brain Injury. His team looks at brain injury, and how we can better use monitoring technology to understand the nature and treatment of concussion.

This work is very important. Globally, Traumatic Brain Injury impacts approximately 69 million people every year, claiming more lives than malaria and tuberculosis combined.

Here in Cambridge, as a city with many cyclists and busy pedestrian streets, head injuries are something we should all be aware of. For this reason, Cambridge’s Mayor, Dinah Pounds, selected traumatic brain injury research as one of her charitable causes for 2025 alongside Cambridge Living Streets, a charity that promotes safer walking in the city.

Staff supporting traumatic brain injury research across Clinical Neurosciences will be helping to raise awareness this year around head injury safety on the road, and the research we do to help patients worldwide.

How big a problem is traumatic brain injury?

• 1 person attends hospital with a head injury every 3 minutes.
• Men are almost twice as likely to be admitted to hospital for head injury.
• There are 900,000 brain injury A&E attendances a year.
• It costs the UK around £43billion.
• Common causes of brain injury include: road accidents, falls and assault. All of these need more awareness.

Prof Peter Hutchinson commented: “While there have been advances in the treatment of patients with head injury, there is more to be done, particularly in terms of prevention. We are delighted to be partnering with Cambridge City Council on this important initiative.”

Mayor Dinah Pounds said: “Addenbrooke's Hospital neurotrauma department is renowned across the world, but it is also especially important for us in Cambridge where cycling and walking is the ideal way to get around our city. I am very pleased to be able to support the work they do in keeping us well and helping us to walk and cycle safely.”

Staying safe in Cambridge

Neurosurgeons in Cambridge treat patients and do vital research to help us all recover faster from head & brain injuries. Our team has given some of their top things to safe on our city streets:

1. Wear your cycle helmet. Every time you ride.
2. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t drink and cycle. Road accidents are a leading cause of head injuries. Get a bus or a cab. Walk back with a friend.
3. Never use a mobile phone while driving or cycling.
4. Accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians are common in our city. If you are on a bike be mindful of others for their protection and yours.
5. Be careful using or around e-scooters. Wear a helmet when riding one.
6. Always follow 20 mph limits. More urban roads should have this limit.

For more information on the full guidance on these and many more, you can look at the Highway Code online.
Here is the Highway Code for Cyclists: Highway Code Rules for Cyclists (2022)

• You can also find more information on cycle safety on Headway, the brain injury association, on their cycle safety pages: Cycle safety | Headway
• And find out which cycle helmets are the safest on Hiper: Helping you choose the best helmet possible | Hiper

How is science helping brain injury?

Right now, we are working with researchers across the globe to improve how patients are assessed, so they can get the best help faster.

In addition to the Glasgow Coma Scale, which celebrated its 50th birthday last year, our researchers are looking at a new model, exploring four key aspects of brain injury together:

• Clinical Assessment
• Blood biomarkers
• Imaging and scans
• Modifiers (other influences to include in the patient assessment)

In Cambridge, we are also utilising novel technology to monitor patients with brain injury and running clinical trials to determine the best treatment.

How can you help?

We will be sharing news, facts and attending events in the city. Do come and talk to us about brain injury and research, and help be a champion for head injury research and safety!

We also have a University of Cambridge donation page if you would like to support traumatic brain injury research across Clinical Neurosciences with a donation here: Traumatic Brain Injury Research | Support Cambridge

And finally …

A big thank you to the researchers and TBI patients who have been helping us on this campaign.