Applied Research for Real-World Impact: Oxford Brookes University and Kinesis Innovation Center
At Oxford Brookes University, physical activity research is firmly grounded in applied public health and real-world implementation. Within the Movement, Occupational & Rehabilitation Science (MORES) research centre, our work focuses on how movement, work, and health interact across the lifespan, particularly in ageing populations.
“Applied research only creates impact when evidence meets real-world conditions. ”
Patrick Esser
This principle underpins our approach at MOReS. Rather than studying physical activity in isolation or under tightly controlled laboratory conditions, we focus on how evidence can be translated into everyday environments where people live, work, and age.
Physical activity in real-world contexts
A defining feature of our approach is the study of physical activity in context — workplaces, communities, and everyday environments — rather than controlled laboratory settings alone. We are especially concerned with:
- Ageing workforces and occupational health
- Physical activity as a determinant of work ability and well-being
- Evaluation of interventions under real-life conditions
This emphasis on implementation and evaluation naturally aligns with the mission of the Kinesis Innovation Center (KIC), which we joined as a founding partner.
Bringing Evidence Forward
This emphasis on implementation and evaluation naturally aligns with the mission of the Kinesis Innovation Center (KIC), which we joined as a founding partner.
KIC offers a space where applied research can be:
- Tested through living labs and pilot environments
- Connected directly with employers, cities, and health systems
- Translated into guidance and policy-relevant insights
Learning from failure
Our contribution through KIC focuses on ensuring that healthy ageing interventions are feasible, evaluable, and scalable. This includes supporting the design of testbeds, contributing to evidence synthesis, and strengthening the link between research findings and decision-making processes.
The Centre for Movement, Occupational and Rehabilitation Sciences is a growing research centre which brings together three key ingredients – Research, Education and Care.
MOReS is underpinned by a strong multidisciplinary and dynamic research team under five key research clusters:
- Movement Sciences
- Occupational Sciences
- Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Research
- Trauma and Musculoskeletal Health
- Paramedic Sciences
MOReS has been granted membership in the World Health Organisation European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA Europe Network) as of February 2024. MOReS houses state-of-the-art clinical research laboratories specialising in clinical movement science, physiology and medical technology.
From Research to Real-World Impact
From our perspective, healthy ageing is inseparable from questions of work, participation, and social sustainability. Platforms such as KIC are essential for ensuring that applied research informs not only academic debate, but practice and policy where it can make a tangible difference.
Through this collaboration, our aim is to contribute evidence that is robust, usable, and responsive to real-world conditions — supporting healthier ageing across diverse settings and populations.
