SPARC has developed and nurtured an extensive network of research & enterprise partnerships and collaborations.

Our objective is to build upon these successes by continuing strategic collaborations that have resulted from funding opportunities and support in-kind.

Organisational collaboration

SPARC have undertaken collaborations with the National Institute of Dance Medicine and Science, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH), the Dudley and Derby Groups of Hospitals, Sheffield Hospital, and the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (London University), Elmhurst Ballet School, Royal Ballet School, George Mason University, USA, Texas A&M University, USA, University of the Arts, Netherlands, Radboud University, Netherlands; Thessaly University, Greece; Porto University, Greece; Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, China; Beijing Dance Academy, China . Grant collaborations resulting from such partnerships include the recent MRC strategic grant involving Birmingham University and Action Heart working on a National Prevention Research Initiative, the Marie Curie IRSES, which is supporting the development of a network of excellence for research on genetic predisposition to cardio-metabolic disorders and a Marie Curie ITN application involving 9 institutions across Europe.

SPARC have received a great deal of funding in-kind to support research initiatives. This includes the BBC Lab UK project “can you compete under pressure” fronted by Michael Johnson. Professor Lane was the lead academic in this online experiment designed to examine the influence of brief interventions on performance whilst under pressure.

Partnerships in applied sports

SPARC research has informed the work of applied sports scientists including the English Institute of Sport, GB Rowing, Department of Sports Medicine, ASPETAR; Qatar, National Sports Institute of Malaysia; Malaysia. We have provided scientific support to individuals and teams in a range of different sports and activities.

Examples of organisations we have worked with include the Birmingham Royal Ballet, Elmhurst Ballet School, Performers College, Centre for Health and Human Performance, 76 Harley Street, British Judo Association, England Netball, England Volleyball, English National Ballet, Rambert Dance Company.

SPARC members have also worked in coach-education (England Basketball Coaches Association) and with sports officials (Sports Officials UK). SPARC has comprehensive links with a number of health and fitness organisations including the Wolverhampton Healthy Lifestyle Team.

Staff research informs our sport science support, led by Dr Ross Cloak, with our university athletes and partner sports teams and athletes including Walsall FC, Wolverhampton Wanders FC, West Bromwich Albion, Aston Villa, Birmingham City Ladies, Chelsea, Lincoln Ladies, GB Judo and a number elite boxers. Strength and Conditioning support, led Mark Niemz, includes the university’s successful Judo programme, which links closely with the British Judo World Class Performance Programme, England Golf Player Development Programme, Wasps Netball under 19s Academy and elite individual athletes; as well as tutoring on the UK Strength and Conditioning Association and British Weightlifting programmes. Martin Longworth is a UEFA A Licenced Coach and NGB Coach Educator, coaches the Men’s 1^st team and works with the other university soccer teams.