Institute for Behaviour, Sport and Rehabilitation

The institute addresses challenges and unites the efforts of researchers and research teams to:

Harness sport and activity for social good
Enhance success in sport, physical education and coaching
Improve rehabilitation and physical activity
Advance our understanding of normal and disordered brain and cognitive functioning
Discover and develop new methods, models and approaches.

We work with local, national and international key stakeholders. By applying research techniques, the Institute provides the best opportunity to develop new ways of working. Our solutions aim to help change people’s lives and wider society.

We have many close working relationships with global academic institutions, industry bodies, and private, public and third sector organisations. Our connections support significant knowledge exchange and innovation and long-term sustainability.

In addition to our high quality outputs, the impact of our research can be found through the development of new ways of working and solutions to society’s challenges.

These include:

Enhancing horse health welfare and performance
Student volunteerism in sports development and community leadership
Football and war
Improving non-surgical treatments in orthopaedic and neurological conditions
Changing mental health care to improve wellbeing in people with cystic fibrosis and their caregivers
Developing evidence-based procedures for rehabilitation in prisons and other secure settings
Helping police to identify offenders of serious crime.

With the development of further impact well underway including:

Understanding and intervening in problem behaviour using a functional, strength-based approach
Responding to and understanding online and direct victim exploitation and abuse
Decision making in complex settings
Talent development in sport
Mental health and wellbeing in sport
Disability in sport
Recovery from physiological stress
Sustainable transport systems.

Research
We have an interdisciplinary research-intensive environment. We produce world-leading outputs that change practice and influence decision making within external organisations and governments.
Knowledge exchange
We support large, medium and small enterprises nationally and internationally. Our outputs help to develop new products and ways of working.
Public engagement
Our research and knowledge exchange community values public engagement and supports external groups and organisations to shape research and innovation that is responsive to the needs of society.