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Our Research

For decades, knowledge in female athlete health has been built on research that was rarely centered on women. The WHSP Institute is changing that.

Our Research Model

We conduct and publish original research in-house, while also collaborating with leading institutions globally to advance female athlete health and performance.

WHSP Institute is the proud home of the Wu Tsai Female Athlete Program and a Member Institution and Research Partner of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance.

The Wu Tsai Female Athlete Program at WHSP Institute was created to advance the female athlete-focused research Dr. Kate Ackerman has been leading as a part of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance since 2021. This work is supported by the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance and the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation.

Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance logo
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The WHSP Research Approach

Icons representing different research study types
Not only is female athlete health and performance research sparse, it is complex. We use qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods approaches, including observational/cross-sectional, intervention/randomized controlled trials and data-driven epidemiological designs. Knowledge translation and behavior change research will help ensure we are maximizing the impact of our outcomes.

Our Research Areas

We are focused on the most critical issues for female athletes across the lifespan.

Effects across the lifespan

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs)

Pregnancy and postpartum

Sex-based differences and menstrual cycle effects on sports performance strategies

Mental health and performance

Sports endocrinology and bone metabolism

Injury prevention and recovery

Intersections of race, gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status

Click here to browse select research from our team

WHSP Institute On-Site Research Capabilities

Physiology lab

Metabolic testing

Research-grade kitchen

Strength and conditioning facilities

Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner

Blood biomarker assessments

3D motion capture system

X-ray and ultrasound

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (EPAT)

USRowing logo

Home of the USRowing
Boston Training Center

Image of Concept2 RowERGs in WHSP gym

The WHSP Research Team

Meet the leaders and collaborators advancing female athlete health and performance research across the globe.

Photo of WHSP Director of Research and Development: Dr. Trent Stellingwerff
WHSP Director of Research and Development
Dr. Trent Stellingwerff

Dr. Stellingwerff brings decades of leadership across various aspects of sport science and high-performance research, particularly in exercise physiology and sports nutrition. His recent work centers on advancing the science of female athlete health and performance, a core pillar of the WHSP Institute’s mission.

Most recently, as Chief Performance Officer at the Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, he has overseen multidisciplinary health and performance teams, led major R&D initiatives and supported national team athletes in track and field, rowing, triathlon and mountain biking. He has contributed to more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, coauthored international consensus statements, including several with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Dr. Stellingwerff earned his PhD in Human Exercise and Skeletal Muscle Physiology from the University of Guelph followed by a Fellowship in Exercise and Muscle Physiology at the University of Maastricht. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Cornell University and has completed numerous advanced certifications, specialized leadership and performance programs from organizations worldwide.

The WHSP Global Research Collaborator Network

Map showing global partners for WHSP research around the world
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Mary Bouxsein, PhD

Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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Louise Burke, PhD

Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia

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Margie Davenport, PhD

University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada

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Joseph DeLeo, PhD(c)

University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, USA

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Beth Frates,
MD

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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Christy Glass, PhD

Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA

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Rachel Grashow, PhD

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

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Robert Guldberg, PhD

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

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Michael Hahn, PhD

University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA

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Alex Harris, PhD(c)

Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA

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Ida Heikura,
PhD

Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Victoria, Canada

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Bryan Holtzman, MD

Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

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Emily Kraus,
MD

Stanford FASTR, Palo Alto, CA, USA

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Megan Kuikman, PhD

Australia Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia

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Daniel Lieberman, PhD

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

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Seán McAuliffe, PhD

University of Limerick, Ireland

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Paddy McCluskey, MD

Canadian Sport Institute Pacific, Victoria, Canada

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Alannah McKay, PhD

Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia

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Julia Pangalangan, DrPH

University of Colorado Anschutz—Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, CO, USA

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Kristin Popp, PhD

TRIA Orthopedics, Minneapolis, MN, USA

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Emma Skaug, PhD(c)

University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada

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Tiffany M. Stewart, PhD

Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA

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Alicia Walker,
PhD(c)

Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia

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Sam Ward,
PhD

University of California San Diego, CA, USA

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Meagan Wasfy, MD, MPH

Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA


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Fiona Wilson, PhD

Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

We are actively growing our research program.

If you are passionate about female athlete health and would like to explore ways to contribute,
we invite you to contact us.