Join our institution to work in an innovative, collaborative and multidisciplinary area of research that harnesses expertise from the world of sport to improve lives.
Read below to find out more about your new home of research or get in touch with a Sport professor today.
For an informal discussion about Sport research at Manchester Metropolitan, please contact Professor Tim Cable.
This is a ‘can-do’ place for academics. We choose people who bring new thinking and new ways of working to help solve the grand challenges that society faces.Professor Tim Cable
Our research strength
A £30m strategic investment has enabled us to build a world-class institute of researchers in the heart of Manchester that champions everything that sport can do. We work to help strengthen communities to build a healthier society as well as inspire the next generation and push the limits of human performance.
This is an institute that unites expertise from across our university, from musculoskeletal scientists and health professionals to experts in sports policy from our triple-accredited Business School. Researchers have unparalleled access to a host of enabling facilities and partnerships that are channelled towards some of the most pressing challenges in society.
In REF 2021, we submitted 55 researchers into Sport and Exercise Science, and 94% of our submission was rated as world leading or internationally excellent and we ranked sixth in the UK for the power of our research.
Extensive partnerships with national bodies, NHS Trusts, local authorities, multinational brands, and international universities allow us to optimise the impact of collaborative and funded research.
We work with academic teams across the globe in countries including Australia, Brazil, New Zealand, and the USA. We collaborate to provide opportunities for funded projects, exchanges, and joint PhD supervision.
Meanwhile, we work with elite clubs and organisations including Manchester City FC, UK Sport, Sport England and British Swimming, and we’re proud to have a large and diverse postgraduate community.
Current research themes
Movement Impairment and Chronic Disease: We specialise in the investigation of endothelial function in various microcirculations in the vascular tree, and in the assessment of the impact of sedentary behaviour and physical inactivity on cardiovascular health and all-cause morbidity and mortality.
Musculoskeletal Function in Health and Ageing: We have defined musculoskeletal function across the lifespan and pioneered imaging and in vitro techniques, providing new insights into the loss of muscle mass accounting for physical declines associated with ageing.
Sports Medicine and Elite Performance: Sports genetics, motor function, whole-body performance and nutrition with specialisms in optimising elite performance across a range of disability and able-bodied sports. We have expertise in gender and in supporting elite female athletes to perform.
Physiotherapy: Translational clinical practice that meets the needs of injured athletes, patients and other service users.
Stress, Health and Performance: Research that helps people in demanding performance environments including athletes and coaches, the British Armed Forces, large corporations, emergency services, and political leaders.
Neuroscience of Ageing and Impaired Mobility: This group has shown how age-related diseases change how the brain controls human movement, leading to the identification of new biomarkers that predict postural and gait symptoms in Parkinson’s disease.
Sports Policy Unit: Mega-events and their impacts, including the governance of sport, sports law, economic forecasting and the regulation of sports stadiums, spectators and ticketing. The work is funded by agencies such as the IOC, UEFA, UK Sport, and Sport England.