New multi-million-pound research and innovation hub will transform the landscape of women’s sport

  • Loughborough University invests over £2m to launch dedicated Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub
  • Initiative officially launched by Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth (The Department for Culture, Media and Sport - DCMS) 

Loughborough University has officially launched its groundbreaking Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub – underpinning its commitment to accelerating growth and excellence in the women’s sport sector. 

The multi-million-pound Hub – launched in partnership with Vitality – will deliver cutting edge research and innovation by bringing together leading academics, industry partners, national governing bodies, and elite-level athletes to drive positive change at every level of the women’s sporting ecosystem.   

This includes development in areas such as the menstrual cycle and its physiological impact on sport performance, the design of pregnancy and postpartum sportswear, sports nutrition in elite female athletes, digital technologies and innovation in sports bras.   

As a partner, Vitality will directly fund a series of PhD projects at the hub and work closely with the University to use research and innovation to better understand and break down the barriers women face to living an active and healthy life.

Launched with a visit from Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth  (The Department for Culture, Media and Sport - DCMS), the Hub became fully operational in March 2025.   

It brings together four University Schools/Institutes (the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, the Sports Technology Institute, the School of Design and Creative Arts, and the Institute of Sport Business) who will work collaboratively across elite, grassroots, and policy levels, ensuring its influence is felt far beyond the University campus.  

Speaking about the Hub Professor Jo Maher, Loughborough University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Sport, said: “Women’s sport is growing and professionalising at a rapid pace and, to date, research and education has not made enough progress to understand the unique challenges faced in the sector.   

“Loughborough University is committed to transforming the research and innovation landscape, leveraging our world-leading expertise to directly address the issues that matter most to women across diverse sporting and exercising groups.”  

Stephanie Peacock, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth (The Department for Culture, Media and Sport - DCMS) commented: “The launch of Loughborough University's Sport Research and Innovation Hub for women is an exciting step for the sector as we seek to grow women's sport, from the elite to the grassroots, right across the country.

“For too long women have felt excluded from participation in sports, and not benefited from comparable medical research into why performance and injuries can differ to men’s sport. So, I commend Loughborough University on this groundbreaking initiative which will help more women from all backgrounds get active, provide valuable insight and support the government's goal of removing barriers to sport.”

Dr Katie Tryon, Commercial Director at Vitality said:There is overwhelming evidence of the benefits of living a healthy and active life, yet in our latest research women’s sport and activity levels continue to not reach recommended levels or the levels they themselves would like to get to.  

“This is a societal issue and one we are committed to playing our role in. We are therefore pleased to be announcing not only an investment today, with Loughborough University, but a partnership that will seek to better understand how we can support women’s sport at all levels and further tackle the barriers that are preventing women living a more active life.”  

Karen Carney OBE, Loughborough University’s Ambassador for Sport, Health and Wellbeing added: “This much-needed initiative will be a game-changer for women’s sport. From my experience as an athlete and my work chairing the government review into women’s football, it’s clear that more must be done to ensure women have access to high-quality, tailored healthcare.

“Research into the unique physical, mental, and social health challenges faced by women athletes remains insufficient. The Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub at Loughborough University marks a powerful step forward in driving real, lasting change. I’m excited to see universities playing a leading role in advancing our understanding and improving women's sport across health, community, and elite levels.”

For more information, visit the Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub website.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: PR 25/41

Video (downloads and embed codes): Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub launched at Loughborough University

Download video/audio (inc. raw files): https://www.lboro.ac.uk/media-centre/videos/2025/women-in-sport-hub/

YouTube video link: https://youtu.be/GsuP40jbBUw

YouTube embed link: <iframe width="560" height="315" src=https://youtu.be/GsuP40jbBUw title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Please credit 'Loughborough University', where possible.

For further video/audio support, please contact d.t.vincent@lboro.ac.uk

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 has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme and named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2025 QS World University Rankings – the ninth year running. 

Loughborough is ranked 6th in The UK Complete University Guide 2025, 10th in the Guardian University League Table 2025 and 10th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025.  

Loughborough was also named University of the Year for Sport in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025 - the fourth time it has been awarded the prestigious title.  

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’, and in the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 over 90% of its research was rated as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally-excellent’. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes. 

The Loughborough University London campus is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities. It is home to influential thought leaders, pioneering researchers and creative innovators who provide students with the highest quality of teaching and the very latest in modern thinking.

About Vitality

Vitality is part of Discovery Limited, a worldwide insurer and investment manager impacting more than 30 million members in over 41 markets worldwide. VitalityHealth is one of the UK’s leading private medical insurers and VitalityLife one of the fastest growing life insurers in the UK, offering award-winning cover to thousands of members. Vitality pioneered the ‘shared-value’ insurance model, a unique approach based on the scientifically proven principles of behavioural economics. Through this model, Vitality helps members take a more active role in managing their own wellness, encouraging them to develop healthy long-term habits that are good for them, good for the company and good for society. The effect is positive for all stakeholders – members benefit from better health, financial rewards and additional incentives; employers benefit from healthier, more productive, and more engaged employees; and Vitality benefits from a healthier membership base.

Vitality’s research into the barriers that prevent women being more active can be found here - Active Women, Healthy Lives: Understanding Barriers to Women's Participation in Physical Activity.

 

Categories