Case Study

CARE Consortium + QuesGen

Collaborative data modeling for the largest concussion study ever conducted—built to scale, built to last.

Overview

The NCAA–DoD Grand Alliance and the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium partnered with QuesGen to support complex longitudinal data collection and research platform needs.

Project goal
Advance the understanding of concussive injuries and recovery across a large, multi-site consortium.
From the study team
“It became very clear, very quickly, that we needed to reach out to someone [to manage the large volume of data] before we could even start the project.”
— Dr. Steven Broglio, PhD, ATC
At a glance
Study size
53,000+ participants
Data complexity
130M+ data points
Partnership
7+ years
Recorded concussions
5,000+

QuesGen supported data systems and storage, study and data strategy, database design, eCRF, and ePRO setup/launch support.

Why CARE needed something beyond “standard” tools

CARE faced complex longitudinal data collection across multiple collection sites, with hundreds of mapped data points and a long-term goal of studying impact across thousands of participants.

  • Multi-site data capture with consistent governance
  • Complex structures that must be modeled and validated
  • Reliability at scale (years of follow-up, growing volume)
  • Exports and reporting aligned to research needs
What QuesGen provided
Data modeling
Longitudinal structure built to evolve without breaking.
Governance
Role-based access, audit-ready workflows, controlled exports.
Capture
eCRFs + ePROs with validation and study-aligned logic.
Dependability
Built for high volume and long-running programs.
“We were always building and refining with QuesGen.”
— Dr. Steven Broglio, PhD, ATC

Phased research design that builds over time

CARE progressed through phases, growing the dataset and expanding the time horizon—requiring a platform that supports evolution without losing coherence.

Phase 1 — CARE 1.0
Built a national multi-site consortium framework

CARE 1.0 ended with approximately 37,000 participants, characterizing the natural history and neurobiology of concussion.

Phase 2 — CARE 2.0
Intermediate-term cumulative effects

Characterizes intermediate-term cumulative effects of concussion and/or repetitive head impact exposure during a cadet or student-athlete career—examining changes in cognition, psychological health, and life function at the end of the collegiate career.

Phase 3 — CSI (CARE-SALTOS Integrated)
Long-term brain health outcomes (up to 10 years)

Aims to characterize long-term effects of concussion and repetitive head impact exposure by studying prior CARE participants up to 10 years after graduation.

“This science has informed better approaches to concussion management... it’s reduced, for instance, the incidents of repeat concussion.”
— Dr. Michael McCrea, PhD, ABPP

Impact

With over 53,000 participants, more than 130 million data points, and 5,000+ recorded concussions, CARE’s findings have been used to inform policy and improve concussion management approaches.

What this enabled
  • Reliable long-running data capture across a large consortium
  • Structured datasets ready for analysis and reporting
  • Reduced operational risk: teams focus on the science, not the tech
Behind the research

The initiative is led by a world-class team of scientists, researchers, and clinicians.

Dr. Thomas W. McAllister, M.D.
Albert Eugene Sterne Professor of Psychiatry, Indiana University School of Medicine
Dr. Michael McCrea, PhD, ABPP
Professor of Neurosurgery & Neurology; Director of Brain Injury Research, Medical College of Wisconsin
Steven Broglio, PhD
Professor; Director of the Michigan Concussion Center, University of Michigan
Colonel (Ret.) Paul F. Pasquina, M.D.
Professor and Chair, Rehabilitation Medicine; Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
“The huge accomplishment is generating this database. Now, we can really dig in.”
— Dr. Thomas W. McAllister, M.D.
Learn more about CARE at careconsortium.net.

Turn care plans into measurable outcomes.

Whether you’re running a multi-site study, building a population health program, or enabling person-centered care, QuesGen delivers planning, tracking, and outcomes measurement on one coherent platform.

Talk to our team
Fast response • Practical guidance • Built for complex workflows