Queensland Academy of Sport - Research & Innovation (QAS SPIKE)

Queensland Government

Formerly known as QAS Sport Performance Innovation and Knowledge Excellence (SPIKE), QAS Centre of Excellence (CoE)

QAS Research and Innovation leads and facilitates applied research and innovation to address performance challenges, create competitive advantage, and improve outcomes for athletes, coaches and high-performance sport programs.

Working collaboratively with universities, industry partners and sporting organisations, we support applied research projects, higher degree researchers, innovation initiatives and strategic partnerships that generate new knowledge and translate evidence into practical solutions.

Our work spans disciplines including biomechanics, physiology, nutrition, medicine, psychology, engineering, data science and coaching. By connecting research, innovation and practice, we build capability, develop future talent, and support sustained success across Queenslands high-performance sport system and on the national and international stage.

Website

https://www.qasport.qld.gov.au/information-for/innovation-research

Organisation type

• Queensland statutory authority

Number of research staff

Up to 20 research staff

Address

Level 1 Western Stand, Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC), 468 Kessels Road, Nathan QLD 4111

Strengths and capabilities

• Embedded applied high-performance sport research and translation
• Athlete performance optimisation
• Athlete health and wellbeing
• Biomechanics and movement analysis
• Performance physiology
• Sports nutrition
• Injury prevention and athlete availability
• Athlete monitoring and performance tracking
• High-performance sport data analytics
• Talent identification and athlete development
• Coach and practitioner development

Facilities and major equipment

• Performance Sport Science Laboratory
• Running track with in-ground Kistler force plates
• Vicon 3D motion capture
• Biodex isokinetic dynamometer
• Parvo Medics TrueOne metabolic analysis system
• H/p/cosmos high-speed wide-body treadmill with safety harness system
• Radiometer ABL90 FLEX blood gas analyser
• Cometa wireless EMG system
• Altitude chamber
• Environmental chamber with Lode Excalibur Sport cycle ergomenter with pedal force measurement
• Microgate OptoJump running/gait analysis system
• Instrumented Swimming Pool
• Recovery Centre
• Kistler KiSwim Performance Analysis System (Instrumented start block and turn wall)
• Fastlane swim current system
• High-Performance Strength and Conditioning Facility
• GymAware velocity-based training system
• Vald ForceDecks force plate system
• Vald NordBord hamstring testing system
• Vald ForceFrame strength testing system

Lead researchers

• Professor Allan Hahn - Distinguished sport scientist with over 30 years experience driving research and innovation in elite sport.
• Professor David T Martin - Internationally recognised researcher and performance practitioner supporting Olympic and Paralympic success through applied science.
• Dr Megan Shephard - Head of Research and Innovation at Queensland Academy of Sport

Achievements of the centre

• Supported 60 higher degree research completions (55 PhD, 6 Masters) over 20 years, strengthening high-performance sport capability nationally.
• Maintained a portfolio of 50+ active research and innovation projects addressing priority high-performance sport challenges.
• Established an embedded research scholar program integrating researchers directly within elite sport environments to accelerate translation into practice.
• Leveraged significant co-investment through strategic partnerships with universities, industry and sporting organisations.
• Developed nationally recognised sport science infrastructure supporting biomechanics, physiology, environmental and performance research

Key science sectors

More information about the sectors this centre is involved in:

• Health and medical
• Social sciences