Loughborough University Champions Women's Sport with Launch of Groundbreaking Research Hub

Only 6% of sports research is conducted exclusively on women—a statistic Loughborough University is determined to change with the launch of its Women in Sport Research and Innovation Hub, in partnership with Vitality.

Led by Professor Jo Maher, vice-chancellor of sport at Loughborough, the hub aims to be a global leader in advancing women-focused research and innovation. It brings together academics, elite athletes, industry experts, national governing bodies, and media platforms to address the critical gaps in how women’s sport is studied and supported.

“Women’s sport is growing and professionalising at a rapid pace, yet research has not kept up,” says Professor Maher. “We’re committed to leveraging our world-leading expertise to directly address the challenges women face in sport.”

Backed by Vitality and Focused on Change

Health insurer Vitality, which recently published its own findings on women's participation in physical activity, is sponsoring a cohort of PhD researchers at the hub. Their work will focus on uncovering the barriers to sport participation, identifying the health and performance benefits, and creating strategies for sustained, equitable engagement.

At the official launch, Minister for Sport Stephanie Peacock highlighted the need for deeper research:

“One of the things holding women’s sport back is the lack of research. This hub is a vital step forward.”

Five Priority Research Areas

The hub will focus on five key themes critical to unlocking the potential of women in sport:

• Health: Menstrual cycles, nutrition, concussion, and injury prevention—particularly ACL injuries—will be key topics.

• Life Stages: Understanding how life transitions such as puberty, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause affect performance and participation.

• Technology: Innovation in sportswear, equipment, wearables, and facilities designed specifically for women.

• Workforce: Researching how to better support women in coaching, leadership, and safeguarding roles.

• Environments: Creating more inclusive, gender-informed sporting cultures at all levels.

Rewriting the Future of Women’s Sport

The launch of this hub marks a long-overdue turning point. With only a fraction of current sports science focused on female athletes, there’s an urgent need to develop evidence-based, gender-specific insights that inform policy, products, coaching, and support.

Advocates like Baz Moffat, co-founder of The Well HQ, have been ringing this alarm bell for years. Speaking recently at the Council of Europe’s International Women’s Day roundtable, Moffat warned of the risks female athletes face when forced to perform in systems built for men.

With the combined power of world-class research, industry collaboration, and bold media storytelling, Loughborough’s new hub—and the internship programme with The Female Body—aims to ensure that women’s sport isn’t just played—it’s properly understood, supported, and celebrated.

The Female Body x Loughborough: Bridging Research and Real-World Impact

As part of this movement, The Female Body—the world’s first media platform dedicated to ending gender inequality across the female body experience—is proud to partner with Loughborough University through an internship programme.

By encouraging early-career writers, this partnership aims to bridge the gap between research and public understanding, helping ensure that women’s health, performance, and participation are not only studied but seen, shared, and acted upon.