The English Institute of Sport (EIS) has renewed its Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (PHC) for the 2020 cycle.
The ongoing collaboration recognises the interest of both institutes in the development and translation of Paralympic performance knowledge through applied research projects and professional development activity.
The occasion was marked with the visit of Dr Cheri Blauwet, Assistant Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, as well as a seven-time Paralympic medallist and Chairperson of the IPC Medical Committee, for several events across three days.
Dr Tom Paulson, EIS Head of Paralympic Performance Support, said: “Dr Cheri Blauwet’s visit is a great example of how the EIS and PHC can work together to develop and share expertise in Paralympic sport science and medicine.
“The PHC boasts a number of world leading researchers in the field of disability sport and current collaborative projects include optimising manual wheelchair configuration and Paralympic athlete transitions.
“Projects such as these will help ensure the EIS continue to deliver world class services to Paralympic athletes and NGBs.”
Professor Vicky Tolfrey, Director of the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, based within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University, added: “The visit of Dr Cheri Blauwet not only opens the opportunity for scientific collaboration, but it formed a great way to showcase our new MoU signing with the EIS. Cheri has had a busy few days, contributing to several initiatives sharing her experiences as a successful athlete and medical doctor.
“In the last cycle we had a successful partnership with colleagues within the EIS and I look forward to the continuation of this work.”
A recording of Cheri’s public lecture, ‘More than just a game: the public health impact of sport and physical activity for people with a disability’ is available here.