As the world of exercise and sport continues to expand and evolve, the Exercise & Sport Science Initiative (ESSI) will play an essential role in optimizing physical performance and health for people of all ages and abilities.

To further transform the future of exercise and sport, ESSI will soon join the School of Kinesiology so that, together, they can expand and translate innovative exercise and sport science-related activity at the University of Michigan.

The administrative details are in development, but the transition of ESSI from its current home in the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) to its new community in Kinesiology is anticipated to take effect January 1. ESSI will continue to be a multidisciplinary unit with strong collaborations across campus, including Michigan Athletics, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in Michigan Medicine, School of Information, and College of Engineering.

Professor Ron Zernicke, who has served as both a co-director and director of ESSI since OVPR launched the initiative in 2016, will help lead the transition. Adam Lepley (clinical assistant professor of Applied Exercise Science, Athletic Training, and Movement Science), Ken Kozloff (associate professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering) and Rebecca Hasson (associate professor of Movement Science and assistant professor of Nutritional Sciences) will also continue in their roles as co-directors of research.

As a result of this strategic move, the team at ESSI will have greater access to a wide range of resources within Kinesiology, including laboratories, faculty, and students. Being embedded in the school will create a more sustainable funding environment to attract and retain faculty and staff at ESSI, while also helping strengthen connections with industry partners across the exercise and sport science landscape.

Zernicke notes that “having ESSI’s administrative home shift from the Office of Research and OVPR to the School of Kinesiology will enable us to enhance our research and educational impacts and increase our U-M and external collaborations. These additional resources will help ESSI achieve its mission of optimizing physical performance and health for people of all ages and abilities.”

Lori Ploutz-Snyder, professor and dean of the School of Kinesiology, is also looking forward to the synergies created by the move. “Our faculty, students, and alumni help prevent injuries and speed up their recovery; improve movement and function across the lifespan; and use sport and physical activity to enhance our quality of life, community, and society at large,” she said. “Our school’s partnership with ESSI will deepen and expand this work, provide new opportunities to our community, and further address complex issues related to human performance.”