The Sport and Exercise Research and Innovation Group specialises in performance, injury, and sports therapy, and clinical neuroscience and vascular health. It is also home to the Football Association of Wales (FAW) Centre for Football Research.

Research themes

• Performance, Injury, and Sports Therapy
• Clinical Neuroscience and Vascular Health

We work across two research themes: Performance, Injury, and Sports Therapy; and Clinical Neuroscience and Vascular Health. Each is led by an individual recognised globally for their expertise and research excellence.

In Performance, Injury, and Sports Therapy,  researchers take a practical approach to improving elite athlete / coach / support staff performance, and physical and mental well-being, as well as promoting physical activity among adolescent performers. 

In Clinical Neuroscience and Vascular Health, led by Professor Damian Bailey, researchers focus on the vascular benefits of exercise throughout life.

Supplementing these themes is the FAW Centre for Football Research, led by Professor Brendan Cropley, a partnership between the University and the FAW, which is affiliated with the Welsh Institute of Performance Sciences (WIPS). The Centre’s mission is to engage in high quality research and innovation, generate research funding, and develop research collaboration that supports the development and performance of athletes across Wales and internationally.

We are committed to research that delivers positive impact for people and organisations across a range of health and performance-related sectors.

Our research is having an impact in: professional education, training, and development; human health, growth and performance; policy and strategy development; the design and development of innovative technology / equipment; and organisational operations.

Postgraduate Research

We invite applications for postgraduate research in the following themes and areas:
 
Clinical Neuroscience and Vascular Health

• High-altitude and space flight, with a particular focus on adaptation/maladaptation following both acute and chronic exposure.
• Ageing, with a particular focus on the role of diet and physical activity in maintaining vascular health across the lifespan.
• Head injuries in sport, with a particular focus on better understanding the changes that occur in metabolic, vascular, and cognitive function following concussion.

Performance, Injury, and Sports Therapy

• Sport Performance – focusing on competition and training (e.g., player tracking); coaching mindset, fitness testing, athlete monitoring, strength and conditioning, motor development and fundamental movements.
• Injury and Sport Therapy – risk factors for injury and reoccurrence, athlete health and wellbeing, physical and psychological preparation to reduce injury risk and severity,
• Rehabilitation (special interests ACL, hamstring strain injury, concussion)
• Performance Psychology – mental health and wellbeing; group dynamics (collective efficacy); extreme sports; imagery and observation interventions; and sport coach as a performer.
• Applied Professional Practice – reflective practice; effective service delivery; and lived experiences of applied practitioners.
• Physical Activity – fundamental and functional movement skills in children; health related physical fitness and activity of children and adolescent youth; primary and secondary school physical education.
  
  

Work with us

We’re passionate about working with partners to address real-world challenges. Our experts work with organisations of all sizes, and from all sectors, to develop new ideas, products and services that solve a specific problem. We help policy makers gather evidence to understand the needs and experiences of a sector or industry to better inform solutions. 

Contact 

Lead: Professor Brendan Cropley