Centre of Excellence for Women in Sport
Manchester Metropolitan University’s Institute of Sport in partnership with the UK Sports Institute.
Our partnership
About us
A pioneering partnership of world leaders aims to amplify and accelerate the development and application of science, medicine and technology to support female athletes and women worldwide who exercise, regardless of their age.
We will become a ‘go to’ global reference for the advancement of research, education, and applied practice in female health and performance.
UK Sports Institute
The largest single provider of world-class science, medicine, technology, and engineering services to Paralympic and Olympic sport in the UK.
Institute of Sport
Harnessing expertise across the world of sport to push boundaries, improve lives and shape society.
Our ambition
We are a unique collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport and the UK Sports Institute (UKSI).
Bringing together world leaders from sport, academia, and industry, our goal is to provide high-quality, credible, pragmatic research and practice-based evidence to support women in sport everywhere.
Initially working across four agendas, our partnership will look to deliver impact across three key areas:
- Research and innovation: Co-producing world-leading research that optimises elite performance and improves women’s health. This will include laboratory and field-based research, developing innovative technology and building global networks.
- Athlete, practitioner and researcher services: Informing policy and practice through position statements, educational workshops and training programmes, clinical services, consultancy and building support for our ideas.
- Knowledge dissemination: Ensuring our findings and best practice advice are shared through our global networks via conferences, workshops, resource development, postgraduate degrees, public engagement and outreach.
These agendas will build on existing work by the Institute of Sport and UKSI, with the centre’s initial focus being on athlete-facing activity. Broader activities will cater for students, patients and the public. Our focus will shift to reflect the emerging needs of female athletes and women who exercise.
This partnership will support the enhancement of Great Britain’s future female Paralympic and Olympic medal prospects and ensure that Great Britain remains at the forefront of female high-performance sports science and medicine. Female athlete research is a key strategic theme for the Institute of Sport, with this partnership serving to further support this, as well as amplify the impact of this research on sport and society.
What we do
Meet our founders
Professor Kirsty Elliott-Sale
Professor of Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology, Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport
Kirsty conducts research on female athletes, which includes the menstrual cycle, hormonal contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause. Her work has involved designing and implementing exercise interventions during and following pregnancy in a variety of populations including servicewomen, athletes and women with obesity. She has co-authored numerous peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, expert statements, and editorials on and for sportswomen, and she works with many organisations including the Football Association, The European Club Association, UEFA, Arsenal Women’s Football Club and Manchester Thunder.
Dr Richard Burden
Co-Lead of Female Athlete Health and Performance, UK Sports Institute
Richard provides leadership in the science, medicine and technology support to female athletes and their sports across the UK Paralympic and Olympic system. As an applied physiologist, he has worked with Olympic and Paralympic athletes across four Games cycles. Alongside his work at the UKSI, Richard is also Reader in Elite Performance & Innovation at Manchester Met.
Contact information
Contact us
To find out more, please contact Kirsty Elliott-Sale, Professor of Female Endocrinology and Exercise Physiology at Manchester Met.