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Michael Collins, PhD

  • Professor
  • Arthur J. Rooney, Sr. Chair in Sports Medicine
  • Clinical and Executive Director, UPMC Concussion Research Laboratory

    Education & Training

  • PhD, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • MS, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
  • BA, University of Southern Maine, Portland, ME
Representative Publications
  1. Trbovich AM, Mucha A, Eagle S, Mehmel BM, Kegel N, Fazio Sumrok V, Collins MW, Kontos AP. The Vestibular/Ocular Motor Screening-Child (VOMS-C) tool for concussion evaluation in 5- to 9-year-old pediatric patients: preliminary evidence. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022 Sep 23:1-7. doi: 10.3171/2022.8.PEDS22234. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36152332.
  2. Eagle SR, Mucha A, Trbovich A, Manderino L, Elbin RJ, Collins MW, Kontos AP. Association of Multidomain Assessment Outcomes with Referral for Vestibular Therapy following Concussion. J Athl Train. 2022 Sep 12. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0032.22. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36094515.
  3. Trbovich AM, Kirschler A, Preszler J, Collins MW, Kontos AP. Comparison of Clinical Outcomes Between Athletes With Immediate and Delayed Onset of Symptoms following Sport-Related Concussion. Clin J Sport Med. 2022 Aug 18. doi: 10.1097/JSM.0000000000001059. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35981461.
  4. Eagle SR, Asken B, Trbovich A, Houck ZM, Bauer RM, Clugston JR, Broglio SP, McAllister TW, McCrea MA, Pasquina P, Collins MW, Kontos AP; CARE Consortium Investigators. Estimated Duration of Continued Sport Participation Following Concussions and Its Association with Recovery Outcomes in Collegiate Athletes: Findings from the NCAA/DoD CARE Consortium. Sports Med. 2022 Aug;52(8):1991-2001. doi: 10.1007/s40279-022-01668-1. Epub 2022 Mar 14. PMID: 35286616.
  5. Eagle SR, Brent D, Covassin T, Elbin RJ, Wallace J, Ortega J, Pan R, Anto- Ocrah M, Okonkwo DO, Collins MW, Kontos AP. Exploration of Race and Ethnicity, Sex, Sport-Related Concussion, Depression History, and Suicide Attempts in US Youth. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Jul 1;5(7):e2219934. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.19934. PMID: 35796154; PMCID: PMC9250048.
  6. Kochick V, Sinnott AM, Eagle SR, Bricker IR, Collins MW, Mucha A, Connaboy C, Kontos AP. The Dynamic Exertion Test for Sport-Related Concussion: A Comparison of Athletes at Return-to-Play and Healthy Controls. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2022 Jun 1;17(6):834-843. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2021-0258. Epub 2022 Feb 25. PMID: 35213824.
  7. Eagle SR, Kissinger-Knox AM, Feder A, Manderino L, Preszler J, Womble MN, Elbin RJ, Collins M, Kontos AP. Temporal Differences in Concussion Symptom Factors in Adolescents following Sports-Related Concussion. J Pediatr. 2022 Jun;245:89-94. doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.02.013. Epub 2022 Feb 12. PMID: 35157844.
  8. Kontos AP, Monti K, Eagle SR, Thomasma E, Holland CL, Thomas D, Bitzer HB, Mucha A, Collins MW. False-Positive Rates and Associated Risk Factors on the Vestibular-Ocular Motor Screening and Modified Balance Error Scoring System in US Military Personnel. J Athl Train. 2022 May 1;57(5):458-463. doi: 10.4085/1062-6050-0094.21. PMID: 35696602; PMCID: PMC9205550.
  9. Eagle SR, Manderino L, Collins M, Kegel N, Fazio-Sumrok V, Mucha A, Kontos AP. Characteristics of concussion subtypes from a multidomain assessment. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2022 Apr 22:1-6. doi: 10.3171/2022.3.PEDS2267. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35453113.
  10. Ferris LM, Kontos AP, Eagle SR, Elbin RJ, Collins MW, Mucha A, McAllister TW, Broglio SP, McCrea M, Pasquina PF, Port NL. Utility of VOMS, SCAT3, and ImPACT Baseline Evaluations for Acute Concussion Identification in Collegiate Athletes: Findings From the NCAA-DoD Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. Am J Sports Med. 2022 Mar;50(4):1106-1119. doi:

PubMed LINK

Research Interests

Dr. Collins has over 23 years of experience specializing in the concussion clinical care and research with over 200 peer-reviewed publications. His research focuses on concussion assessment, clinical profiles, risk factors, and targeted treatments, in sport, pediatric and military populations.

Research Grants

US Army Medical Research and Development Command CDMRP Fiscal Year 2021 
TBI and Psychological Health Research Program- Focused Program Award  (W81XWH-21-S-TBIPH2)
Title: NeuroImmunoEndocrine Interface: Exploring a Unifying Axis for Precision Care in PH & TBI: NEXUS (Wagner A-PI)
Role: Co-I
Dates: September 2022-September 2026