Strategic Goals
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute has identified several strategic goals that represent our core priorities for future growth and impact. This section details how we aim to further the science and practice of exercise medicine in meaningful ways.
OUR VISION:
Transforming lives through Exercise Medicine.
OUR PURPOSE:
Driving discovery in exercise medicine for disease treatment and health empowerment.
Undertaking Impactful World-Class Research
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute’s ongoing research program responds to the constantly evolving clinical treatment of complex conditions. We are discovering the underlying biological mechanisms through which exercise medicine suppresses cancer cell growth and enhances the effectiveness of radiation therapy.
We are also investigating if exercise in patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy can improve patient outcomes, and the potential of telehealth exercise programs in patients who are overweight or obese.
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute is committed to addressing problems and questions considered priority for patients, clinicians, and NGOs, including The World Cancer Research Fund, The Cancer Council of Western Australia, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Movember, National Breast Cancer Foundation, and Spinal Cord Injuries Australia.
Moreover, these priorities align with WA State health priorities: ‘Working to provide a high-quality continuum of care spanning health promotion, early intervention and primary care, through to diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation.’
This also aligns with the Australian National health priorities: ‘Reducing the burden of illness, reducing health inequalities, access to quality care and health services across the health continuum, and partnership between all sectors.’
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute’s research cuts across all these priorities and is particularly focused on the National Health Priority Area of Cancer Control.
Impact
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute’s research program developed and tested targeted exercise interventions to reverse treatment-related toxicities and improve patient outcomes that have changed the clinical management of people with cancer worldwide.
Our work is incorporated in national and international guidelines reaching 70 countries (Web of Science 2025) and 107 policy documents including World Health Organisation (WHO), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO).
Collaboration and Engagement
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute continues to solidify relationships with industry partners including Cancer Council of Western Australia, Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Spinal Cords Injuries Australia (SCIA) and Movember. We collaborate to provide much needed services and knowledge to the community in addition to delivering on research projects from funds received from multiple organisations nationally and internationally.
Delivering an exceptional student experience for success in work and life
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute promotes a high-level research culture through a model of participation, collaboration and integration.
It’s an environment in which staff and students share and work towards realising ECU’s vision: to lead the sector in educational experience, research with impact, and in positive contributions to industry and communities.
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute has a strong focus on mentoring students and ECRs and we will continue to recruit high quality national/international HDR students. We continue to invest in projects led by HDRs with funds to improve the quality of data collection and sophisticated assessment techniques.
For more information, please visit our Postgraduate page.
Community and Consumer Engagement
The Exercise Medicine Research Institute translates ground-breaking research into practice, supporting the community and consumers with world-class care.
