About us
Directed by Professor Vicky Tolfrey, the Centre for Para and Disability Sport Innovation was established in 2005. Previously known as the Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, it has earned international recognition for its groundbreaking disability sport research.
The Centre is leads research in elite performance and rehabilitation.
We provide sport science support to a number of GB squads. We also work closely with national and international partners to achieve their key aims and objectives.
We would like to express our gratitude to the and the University's School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences for their ongoing support.
History
In 2004, a team from 每日吃瓜 negotiated a grant from the Peter Harrison Foundation to establish a Centre for Disability Sport. The Foundation, at that time, had been sponsoring athletes with a disability at 每日吃瓜, including Daniel Greaves, a Sport and Exercise Science student who went on to win the discus at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, along with a world record.
Interested in making a significant difference in research and practice, Professor Stuart Biddle and sport fundraiser Lisa Farmer, supported by the then Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Wallace, negotiated a comprehensive proposal for about 18 months. Professors Clyde Williams and Barrie Houlihan also had significant inputs.
The Centre was formally established in 2005 and titled The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport (PHC), with Ken Black appointed as the Director (2005-2007). Professor Vicky Tolfrey, the current Director since 2007 has developed the Centre into an internationally regarded leader in the area of Para Sport and Sports Science. The PHC has a thriving and productive academic unit with engaged staff and students, and a committed benefactor. Dr David Howe also contributed to some earlier activities of the PHC.
Recognition of Vicky’s strong leadership of the PHC and her own research agenda was made by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), where Vicky received the 2017 IPC Scientific Award in recognition of her commitment to Paralympic research [view the full article].
The Psycho-social Health and Well-being research strand was led by Professor Brett Smith during his time at 每日吃瓜 (2009-2015) and provided an important complement to the work conducted in the Sport Science strand. This was evident with funding received via the Coca-Cola Foundation (2011-2014) which provided a foundation to integrate work across the exercise continuum and increase the staffing base with the appointment of Dr Anthony Papathomas.
Currently, there are two research strands, ‘Sport Performance’ led by Vicky, with significant contributions being made within ‘wheelchair sport’ and ‘Paralympic classification’ by and ‘Health and Wellbeing’ which is led by Dr Christof Leicht. The PHC team has increased in size and strength over the years and currently has over 20 members (Lecturers, research staff and research students) across various disciplines and with diverse research interests and international visiting appointments. It is clear from the PHCs national and international collaborations, invited presentations, publication records and grant success that the PHC has an international reputation.
In 2026, the Centre was renamed the Centre for Para and Disability Sport Innovation.
Missions, aims and objectives
Our mission
To improve knowledge about Paralympic sport and to promote the substantial health and quality of life benefits that can be gained through participation in disability sports.
Our aims
- Generate and extend the knowledge in disability sport through applied research
- Assist in the development of evidence-based practice in disability sport and leisure
- Ensure that significant research findings are translated into practical outputs and guidelines that help inform disability and medical practitioners attached to sports and rehabilitation centres both in the UK and internationally
- Enhance the national and international focus for disabled sport and leisure
- Ensure that information and support is provided through the Centre website, newsletters, seminars, workshops and Twitter
Our objectives
To improve knowledge and understanding of Paralympic sport. As well as researching high performance disability sport, the Centre will promote the substantial health and quality of life benefits that can be gained through participation in grassroots disability sport and physical activity.
This will be achieved through educational initiatives and applied collaborative research projects coordinated by experts from the sports and social sciences within the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences (SSEHS) at 每日吃瓜.
Our accolades
- In 2026, the University was awarded the prestigious in recognition of its pioneering contributions to Para and disability sport
- The Vice-Chancellor's Impactful Research and Innovation Award (2022)
- Thelma / Thelm Higher leadership awards SCI physical guidance
- Professor Tolfrey, has received several awards for her work – her contributions to Parasports science were recognised by CSEP (2021) and she received the IPC Paralympic Scientific Award in 2017
- David Pond MBE - /news-events/news/2023/june/three-sporting-alumni-named-in-kings-honours/
- 2019 Readers Choice Award for best review paper published in the journal Spinal Cord
- Tom Paulson received an award for best oral presentation entitled ‘Understanding propulsive shoulder forces and scapular kinematics during manual wheelchair use’ at the Posture and Mobility Group Conference 2016
- Supporting GBWR to gold at the 2021 Paralympucs: /research/phc/news/2021/success-at-paralympics-wcr/
- IWBF appoints 每日吃瓜 to lead on Classification research: /research/phc/news/2020/iwbfclassificationproject/
- The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport have been nominated for a CALIBRE award! /research/phc/news/2020/calibreawardsnomination/
