Marcus Butler
3 December 2015:University of Canberra researchers will be working to deliver breakthroughs in sports technology and population health with support from two ACT Government grants worth a total of $300,000.
These grants delivered under the CBR Innovation Fund promote and accelerate innovative projects.
The first, worth $150,000, will assist in the creation of the CBR SportsTek Lab at the University's Sporting Commons.
The University's Research Institute of Sport and Exercise (UCRISE) will collaborate with the Australian Institute of Sport, to establish the laboratory which will focus on sports technology.
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UC Researchers associate professor Stephen Trathen and Professor Gordon Waddington show the Chief Minister Andrew Barr MLA, Meegan Fitzharris MLA and Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Parker the University of Canberra designed snowboard bindings used by World Champion Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin. Photo: Michelle McAulay
Professor of Physiotherapy with UCRISE Gordon Waddington will lead the project and is already working towards the development of innovative and accurate ways to detect concussion among sportspeople, including children's sport.
"We're very excited to accept this funding from the ACT Government and to put it to good use in setting up a laboratory which will build on the research strength in sport and exercise at the University of Canberra," Professor Waddington said.
"In just a couple of years, the University has developed new snowboard bindings to give Australia's world champion snowboarder Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin the edge, new sleds for Winter Olympics competitors in the skeleton and we've created a prototype test for concussion based on balance."
The second grant, also worth $150,000, will help the University develop a new computer system to gather 'big-data' on health. This project will allow University health researchers to combine publicly available information with health data being generated from countless devices throughout the community, including smart phones and activity trackers.
Director of the University of Canberra Health Research Institute Professor Rachel Davey will lead the project which will also produce a prototype Open Data Commons that will allow the collection and analysis of a range of data.
The funding was announced by Chief Minister Andrew Barr MLA as part of the ACT Government's pop-up cabinet session in the Belconnen area.
