Latest news from Loughborough University

24 Jul 2013

Exercise that makes you well gets £7 million funding boost

Image by Andrew Weekes Photography

Loughborough University will receive over £7 million from HEFCE’s Catalyst Fund that will see it strengthen its position as a leader in sports and exercise medicine research and accelerate the translation of research to patient care.

The funding will help the University build new collaborative and sustainable research capacity in sport and exercise medicine across its engineering, technology and sport science disciplines, and will support the initiation stage of the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (NCSEM) - a multi-partner project across the East Midlands.

Catalyst funding will enable Loughborough to make key new appointments including senior academic posts in rehabilitative medicine, healthcare technologies and regenerative medicine, and a series of new PhD posts for clinicians.

It will also fund a team of translational scientists and a marketing specialist to disseminate and deploy research findings into the clinical community, to achieve a rapid rise in understanding of the potential of sport and exercise medicine for patients.

Pro Vice Chancellor (Research) Professor Myra Nimmo said: 

“This funding will benefit directly the East Midlands National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine through our existing partnership, and the wider national patient groups through the national network.

“It will enhance our ability at Loughborough to draw on expertise within our strong engineering and technology disciplines, and use it in our sport and health research. This will ultimately lead to new approaches to patient care, disease management and prevention.”

Sir Alan Langlands, HEFCE Chief Executive, said:

“Loughborough University is a leader in sports education and research. This funding will enable the University to further develop its strengths in sports research and medicine with local and national benefits. This project demonstrates that universities are playing a significant part in the extending Olympic legacy.”

Loughborough’s successful bid was led by Professor Nimmo, Fidelma Hannah, Jon Walker and Reuben Srinivasan.

−ENDS−

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 13/145

About Loughborough University
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It was awarded the coveted Sunday Times University of the Year 2008-09 title, and is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in national newspaper league tables. It has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league, and in recognition of its contribution to the sector, the University has been awarded six Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

It is a member of the 1994 Group of 11 leading research-intensive universities. The Group was established in 1994 to promote excellence in university research and teaching. Each member undertakes diverse and high-quality research, while ensuring excellent levels of teaching and student experience.

About the National Centre
The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine - East Midlands (NCSEM) is a collaborative project between six university and hospital partners – Loughborough University, the University of Nottingham, the University of Leicester, Nottingham University NHS Trust, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust and Nottingham Healthcare NHS Trust. Funded by the Department of Health, the NCSEM-EM is one of three Centres nationwide.

About HEFCE
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) promotes and funds high-quality, cost-effective teaching and research to meet the diverse needs of students, the economy and society. Our responsibilities are to distribute funds, safeguard quality and assure the stewardship of public money. We work closely with universities, colleges and other partners to develop policies, achieve excellence and impact in education and research, and to provide opportunities for all those who have the ability to benefit from higher education. For the academic year 2013-14, HEFCE will allocate £4.47 billion to 129 universities and higher education colleges and 203 further education colleges. www.hefce.ac.uk

Contact for all media enquiries

Amanda Overend
Public Relations Officer
Loughborough University
T: 01509 223491
E: A.J.Overend@lboro.ac.uk