The National Football League joined GE, a world leader in medical imaging, on Monday in launching a $60 million research program aimed at improving diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injuries. The four-year Head Health Initiative, guided by healthcare experts, aims to improve athlete concussion safety with innovations that could be used by soldiers as well as in society.

Part of the program, in conjunction with sportswear maker Under Armour, includes an innovation challenge program to start late this year with investments of up to $20 million for research and technology to better understand, diagnose and protect against brain injuries.

"Our knowledge of the brain is far behind that of nearly every other organ," GE Chairman Jeff Immelt said. "With this initiative, we will advance our research and apply our learning to sports-related concussions, brain injuries suffered by members of the military and neurodegenerative diseases."