Dr. J. Patrick Neary
Guest Speaker at:
Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (i.e., Concussion) - January 2026
Dr. J. Patrick Neary is an exercise physiologist and Professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Regina. He has dedicated more than 20 years to studying the pathophysiology of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), including sport-related concussion, with a focus on how concussions affect brain blood flow regulation and cardiovascular function.
Dr. Neary has developed an independent, nationally and provincially funded research program supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation (SHRF). His research has demonstrated that concussions can cause transient disruptions in cerebrovascular function and cardiovascular regulation, contributing to the wide range of symptoms and recovery timelines experienced following brain injury.
In addition to his concussion research, Dr. Neary’s applied work examines how physical and mental stress impacts cardiac function in high-demand occupations such as firefighting, policing, and shift work. He has received a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Collaborative Research and Development Grant, which contributed to the development of a cardiac biosensor now commercialized as the LLA Recordis™ cardiac sensor.
Dr. Neary is actively involved in long-term post-traumatic stress disorder and injury research with the RCMP and Public Safety Personnel and is currently funded by the NFL/NFL Players Association Joint Pain Management Committee to investigate the role of phytocannabinoids in pain management and neuroprotection following concussion. He also serves as a Board Member of the Saskatchewan Brain Injury Association.
