Human performance laboratory opens at Keele to support students and researchers

A new high tech Human Performance Laboratory has opened its doors at Keele University, providing a learning and research environment for students and staff studying sport, exercise and rehabilitation-related disciplines. 

Located within Keele’s Sports Centre, the facility is the second of two new laboratories developed to support the growing work of the Institute of Sport, following the successful launch of the Exercise Science Laboratory last academic year. 

Equipped with the latest technology to analyse the human body and featuring a mural designed by local artist Tom Edwards, the Human Performance Laboratory will enhance learning experiences across courses such as the BSc Sport and Exercise Science, and BSc Rehabilitation and Exercise Science. Its high-spec equipment enables students and lecturers to explore the body’s responses to exercise in real-time. 

The lab will also support cross-disciplinary research across the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences with applications ranging from performance assessments to investigations into a wide range of health conditions—benefiting fields such as sports performance, physiotherapy, orthotics and prosthetics, and rehabilitation science. 

Together, these two facilities will help to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and professional application, allowing students to learn, experiment, and thrive in an industry-standard environment. 

Dr Clare Pheasey, Programme Director for Sport and Exercise Science at Keele, said: "I’m absolutely thrilled to be welcoming our first cohort of BSc Sport and Exercise Science students this September. Our programme has been carefully crafted to make the most of Keele’s outstanding facilities—including our brand-new Human Performance Laboratory—ensuring our students graduate with the skills, experience, and confidence to compete with the very best in the field."