16 Nov 2010
Lane4 to invest in Loughborough’s sport and performance psychology research
The University’s partnership with Lane4 will see the two organisations working together over the next four years, with the shared goal of delivering the very highest standards of excellence in all aspects of performance psychology. Central to this aspiration is leading the generation and application of research on the psychology of performance excellence.
Dr David Fletcher, based at the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, negotiated the agreement on behalf of the University and will oversee the research.
Speaking of the partnership, Dr Fletcher said:
“Loughborough University is delighted to be working with a leading organisation such as Lane4. The funding and resources that Lane4 provide enables our researchers to tackle the most challenging and important questions in the field of performance psychology.
“Furthermore, with Lane4 consultants applying this knowledge across a variety of performance domains, we hope to benefit from immediate and forthright feedback on the research’s impact.”
“Whilst the agreement is focused on conducting ground-breaking research, everyone involved was also keen to ensure that the next generation of sport and performance psychologists benefit. For example, our postgraduate students will attend international conferences to present their research and return with best practice. Our undergraduate students will have the opportunity as part of their coursework to develop a poster presentation, with the best students being invited to a ‘Dragon’s Den-type’ contest judged by a panel of leading academics, consultants and consumers”.
In some respects, the agreement with the University brings Lane4 back to its roots. In 1995, Professor Graham Jones, a sport and performance psychology lecturer at the University, met Olympic gold medallist swimmer, Adrian Moorhouse MBE, and subsequently founded the company. Since then, Lane4 has maintained its links with the University and the research agreement represents the natural evolution of the relationship.
Dr Austin Swain, Director of Research and Product at Lane4 said:
“Lane4 is very excited about the opportunities that the partnership with Loughborough University presents. Having access to a new wave of psychological thinkers and being involved in the early stages of research will help tailor and shape our work to really support the companies we work with. Lane4 has always been keen to address the complexity of knotty, real-life business issues and this, coupled with the University’s own wish to avoid being marooned in an ivory tower, will make for highly relevant and applied research.”
Over the past three decades scientists at Loughborough University have been conducting innovative research on sport and performance excellence. In 2008, the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Science was ranked first in the UK Research Assessment Exercise.