Research is carried out either in the Exercise Laboratory and/or in a number of clinical departments of Physiotherapy.
The equipment resources available for postgraduate research include: a treadmill, cycle and rowing ergometers, a mobile ergospirometry system (Oxycon mobile), an isokinetic machine (Biodex), two electrogoniometers, spirometers and a number of physical activity monitors and a 3-D motion analysis system (CODA). Most of this equipment is situated in a dedicated exercise laboratory. There is a dedicated postgraduate room which has desk space for 10 students. There are excellent working relationships with a number of clinical sites where clinical studies may be performed. Much of the postgraduate research to date has been performed in clinical departments in the areas of gerontology, paediatrics, cardiology, respiratory medicine and rheumatology. In addition a number of postgraduate students have engaged in research with sporting bodies and primary schools.
Research also takes place in the recently opened Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility (CRF). This co-located in St. James's Hospital and is a purpose built facility which contains dedicated space for clinical trial procedures and expertise to support researchers with the conduct of clinical research. The facility includes an exercise physiology space with equipment for exercise testing and implementation of exercise interventions. The research team in the Discipline of Physiotherapy have a strong relationship with the Clinical Research Facility and have multiple exercise based studies underway at the site.
The Trinity Exercise Oncology Research Group is a multidisciplinary group conducting research into the role of exercise in cancer care. The group, which has been in existence since 2009, has led the design, delivery and evaluation of several clinical trials and exploratory studies across a range of cancer types. In 2018/2019, the Trinity Exercise Oncology Research Group was awarded approximately €1.3 million in funding by the Health Research Board (HRB), Medical Research Charities Group (MRCG), the Irish Cancer Society and the All-Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care to allow expansion of the cancer survivorship programme. The core value of the research programme is to conduct patient-centred, interprofessional, clinically pragmatic research that have the potential to positively benefit patient care.
