CHaRT research group
Using physical activity, exercise, nutrition, and new technologies to enhance people's quality of life
Established in 2017, the Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Team (CHaRT) is dedicated to advancing applied research and consultancy aimed at supporting individuals of all ages in leading healthy and active lives. Our research, conducted with partners in the healthcare, community and commercial/industrial sectors, also aims to support the development of enhanced professional practice and policy.
Our Research and Impact
CHaRT undertakes world-leading interdisciplinary research to advance knowledge and understanding of the effects of sport, exercise, physical activity and nutrition in health and disease. The group comprises a multidisciplinary team with expertise across qualitative and quantitative methods of enquiry, in the disciplines of physiology, biomechanics, psychology, strength and conditioning and nutrition. We are developing novel interventions to improve health outcomes in people with long-term conditions in community-based and primary healthcare settings as well as the general population.
The team is supported by a state-of the-art laboratory infrastructure, equipped for basic and applied studies that are internationally excellent and world-leading.
The aims of the Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Team (CHaRT) are to undertake research and knowledge exchange activity to promote a multidisciplinary approach to:
- investigate mechanisms and factors (environmental and contextual) that underpin human health across the lifespan
- investigate the role of physical activity, exercise and nutrition in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease, and in the promotion of psychological well-being
- the biomechanical, medical and psychological factors that contribute to sports performance and the management, prognosis and rehabilitation of sports injuries
The population groups that we conduct research with include (but are not limited to) the following:
- People living with long-term physical and mental health conditions
- Older adults (including those with frailty and sarcopenia)
- Children and young people
- Athletes from community to Olympic / Paralympic and professional sport
- Healthcare professionals
Our key areas of research
Physical activity and exercise strategies to support health and wellbeing
Research within this group primarily investigates the integration and optimisation of exercise and physical activity into routine health care and daily life in the prevention and treatment of chronic disease. Examples include research that supports ways of supporting people with long-term conditions (e.g. cystic fibrosis, cancer, kidney, diabetes) to engage in safe and appropriate physical activity. Particular expertise in the group also focuses on rehabilitation and prehabilitation for surgery and understanding and improving intraoperative outcomes. Physical activity focused research is also using co-creation to bring communities closer together and support, for example, refugees and asylum seekers.
Assistive and digital health technologies
We are investigating the use of assistive technologies, such as using robotics to support rehabilitation, and novel prosthetic and orthotic interventions for foot drop and amputees. We are also working in the development and evaluation of digital health applications and websites to enhance physical activity and support virtual consultations and home monitoring in people with long-term conditions.
Mechanisms of Disease and Therapeutics
Our research group employs innovative techniques to gain a comprehensive understanding of disease pathophysiology, including environment-related disorders (EDS, heat illness, malignant hyperthermia, NFCI). We examine drug mechanisms of action, as well as the impact of nutrition and ergogenic aids on health and performance. We also explore nature-based alternatives to pharmacological interventions. Our multifaceted approach aims to reshape disease understanding and therapeutic strategies, paving the way for enhanced patient care.
Athlete health and welfare
Multidisciplinary researchers are investigating athlete mental and physical health and injuries in sport, including female-specific considerations. We apply epidemiology, biomechanics, physiology and psychology to the study of sports injuries to understand injury risk, as well as develop ways to reduce this. Current research spans all levels of sport, including Paralympic athletes. Research is also seeking to understand and improve lifelong health in athletes following retirement, including improving rehabilitation within the orthopaedic surgery setting and welfare and care pathways. Our research positively impacts the safety and welfare of athletes across all levels of sport and the globe.
Professional practice of health and care professionals
Work within this group has developed professional standards focused on the implementation of exercise practices and professionals (such as registered Clinical Exercise Physiologists in the UK) into healthcare. Other work has developed guidelines for allied health professionals working with people living with long-term conditions and athletes, surgeons, and psychologists. The team has particular expertise in the implementation of physical activity outcomes, exercise testing and exercise training within healthcare.
Hear about our research
Explore our work as part of Life Solved, our weekly University research podcast.
Using Robotics to Support Physical Recovery ft. Amy Wright
In this episode of Life Solved Amy Wright, takes us through how biomechanical data informs artificial intelligence and robotics to help people recover the use of their limbs.
Using Extreme Environments To Tackle The Obesity Crisis ft. Dr Ant Shepherd
In the latest episode of Life Solved, Dr Ant Shepherd takes us through a unique project to investigate how altitude and temperature could be of benefit to millions of people in the UK.
Recent projects
Portsmouth FC Player Testing
We worked with Portsmouth Football Club to measure a player's movement during their recover from injury — and shared our findings with the medical team at Portsmouth FC to inform their next steps of rehabilitation.
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The University of Portsmouth in partnership with Portsmouth Football Club.
The School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science have been working with Portsmouth FC to provide support during a player's rehabilitation following injury.
Using state of the art motion capture and force plate technologies, they can measure a player's movement and forces they produce.
This data is then provided to the medical team at Portsmouth FC to help inform the next steps of rehabilitation.
Your time. Your place. University of Portsmouth.
Partnerships and Collaborations
CHaRT collaborates extensively with healthcare, cultural, governmental, and physical activity organisations. We work closely with charities, industry partners, the military, and the NHS. We have established a world-wide reputation and our research is published by leading academic publishers, high-quality peer-reviewed journals, and informs policy and guidelines nationally and internationally. Our recent research activity has been funded from a number of sources including the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR), local NHS Trusts, and a wide range of medically-oriented charity funders (e.g. GUTS UK, the Cystic Fibrosis Trust, the British Lung Foundation, Kidney Research UK) and a range of other international partners and agencies. In addition, we continue to attract industry-funded research support. There is ongoing media interest in our research, and we engage widely in dissemination of our findings with local, national and international partners.
Work with us
A special focus of the Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Team (CHaRT) is to develop partnerships with local communities and healthcare services and organisations (incl. NGO, businesses and industries) to facilitate high-quality translational research that offers benefits to patients and the wider society. We are committed to the development of strategic partnerships to address our research priorities and have established links with NHS Trusts, charities, community organisations and leading national and international academic research centres. These partnerships work to inform policies and practice.
Postgraduate study
CHaRT offers postgraduate research supervision expertise across our areas of expertise. We welcome applications from individuals with interests in research that focuses on health, nutritional status and quality of life of people, the professional practice of health and care professionals, and the development of health and care policy. A key driver of our postgraduate research training is the use of collaborative partnerships to facilitate applied research programmes of high relevance to our key stakeholder communities (e.g. consumers, patients, industry, NHS).
We have extensive experience of the supervision of postgraduate research and we offer research training via our MSc Clinical Exercise Physiology, MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-Registration), PhD and Professional Doctorate degree routes. Initial enquiries can be made to Associate Professor Zoe Saynor (CHaRT Lead) or to individual members of the team who are engaged in the relevant area of research.
Meet the team
Dr Zoe Saynor
Dr Ant Shepherd
Dr Maria Perissiou
Dr Andrew Scott
Dr Mitch Lomax
Media ready expert
Dr Heather Massey
Dr Joe Moore
Miss Amy Wright
Dr Carolina Goncalves
Mrs Helena Drummond
Dr Chad Witcher
Miss Chloe Ryder
Dr Jo Corbett
Dr Chris Mills
Dr Thierry Middleton
Dr Timothy Exell
Mr Thomas James
Mr Adam Bowley
Visiting staff
- Fiona Wilson - Visiting Professor
- Osman Ahmed - Visiting Senior Lecturer
- Jamie Wood - Visiting Senior Lecturer
- Nadeem Afzal - Visiting Associate Professor
- Ed St. John - Visiting Associate Professor
Research assistants
- Poppy Marsh
- Mohammad Alnajjar
- Joshua Ferreira
- Maddison Geeves - Respiratory Physiologist and NIHR ARC Wessex Intern
Doctoral researchers
- Lauren Clayton
- Emeka Uzoma
- Hannah Prieto
- Josie Morris
- Catherine Wharfe
- Daniel Piccolo
- Thomas James
- Aaron Kinsey
- Ben Steele-Turner
- Ruth De Vos
- Lisa Morrison
- Ruth Leskovar
Contact the Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation team
For further information please contact Associate Professor Zoe Saynor:
Our contact us by post:
Clinical, Health and Rehabilitation Team
School of Sport, Health and Exercise Science
University of Portsmouth
Spinnaker Building
Cambridge Road
Portsmouth
PO1 2ER