Joint CASES and ISESA Webinar
January 29 @ 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Free
Talk Summary
Part 1: From Lab to Lions: Translating Sport Nutrition Research into Elite Practice
This presentation will explore how research undertaken at Liverpool John Moores University directly informed applied practice during the British & Irish Lions tour in summer 2025. Framed around the Paper to Podium model, Graeme will demonstrate how laboratory research, applied studies and practitioner experience were integrated to guide decision making in a high pressure elite environment.
The session will also share practitioner insights that are rarely visible in academic publications, highlighting the real-world challenges of translating evidence into practice at the highest level of sport.
Part 2: Lessons from a Lifetime of Elite Level S&C Support
This presentation will explore lessons learnt from a career in S&C support across professional rugby, Olympic and Paralympic sport. Tom will present on the application of research to design of S&C support for high performance sport and elite level athletes and players. Key lessons learnt from a 20-year career sporting elite level athletes and players will be outlined and discussed.
About the speakers
Professor Tom Comyns
Professor Tom Comyns is Professor of Sport Science at the University of Limerick and is the Chair of the Irish Sport and Exercise Sciences Association. Tom is accredited to the UK Strength and Conditioning Association and is an Accredited Advanced Sport Scientist with the ISESA. Tom’s research interests centre on the surveillance and prevention of injury in amateur and school’s rugby, and the assessment of strength qualities in elite sport. Tom has extensive S&C coaching experience and was a Senior S&C coach with Munster Rugby/ IRFU from 2006 to 2012, and Head of S&C with Sport Ireland Institute from 2012 to 2015. In 2015 Tom commenced his academic role in the University of Limerick and also has continued to work with Irish Olympic and Paralympic athletes based in Limerick through Sport Ireland Institute. A central focus of Tom’s work is on the application of relevant research to the practical setting with the ultimate aim of positively impacting on athlete health, wellbeing and performance.
Finally, Tom was an elite athlete and Olympian himself and competed in numerous World and European Athletics Championships and in the Sydney Olympic Games.
Professor Graeme Close
Professor Graeme Close FCASES (Liverpool John Moores University and CASES Fellow) is Professor of Human Physiology at Liverpool John Moores University and Head of the Research Institute for Sport and Exercise Sciences. Alongside his academic role, Graeme works extensively in elite sport and is Head of Performance Nutrition for the DP World Tour, Nutrition Technical Lead for England Rugby, Head of Nutrition to the British & Irish Lions, and a nutrition consultant to Everton Football Club.
Graeme is a Fellow of both the European College of Sport Science and the Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences. His research focuses on muscle damage and repair, with specific interests in vitamin D, cannabidiol and, more recently, motor neurone disease in sport. He has published over 200 peer reviewed research papers and regularly delivers keynote presentations internationally. A central theme of Graeme’s work is translating high quality research into meaningful, practical impact in elite performance environments.