Professor Cath Sackley delivered keynote at new German Society for Physiotherapy Science

Head of Physiotherapy, Professor Cath Sackley delivered the keynote at new German Society for Physiotherapy Science.

This is a fantastic opportunity to build international research platforms, she claimed.

Professor Sackley told the new German Society for Physiotherapy Science inaugural conference that, patient centred research is a vital component of world class research. A leader in physiotherapy research, she viewed the event as a: fantastic opportunity to build international research platforms.

The aim of the day was to enhance, compliment and inspire a board of executive committee members and early career researchers from the new society, to help facilitate a world class research perspective that will guide evidenced based practise.

Professor Sackley was invited by Professor Christian Grüneberg, the Dean of Applied Health Sciences at the College of Health in Bochum, Germany to share the UK perspective on physiotherapy research. She focused on the huge success of the NIHR, highlighting how physiotherapy remains a high priority within the UK research landscape.

Other topics included the British and Belgian research agenda, the need for mixed methods, potential pitfalls, complex interventions and the barriers and challenges of research structures. Professor Sackley said she was, particularly impressed by the energy and positivity, of their young staff.

The other half of the symposium was led by Professor Geert Verheyden from the Faculty of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Leuven, Belgium. He shared the Belgian perspective on physiotherapy research.