PI en PROFITH/UGR: Francisco B Ortega
E-mail: ortegaf@ugr.es
Coordinator of the Network: Germán Vicente Rodríguez
E-mail:gervicen@unizar.es
The Physical Exercise and Health Research Network (EXERNET) integrates the physical activity and health research activity of various research nodes in Spain. At the moment, EXERNET integrates 26 leading research groups in our country, spread over different geographical areas. The fundamental objective is to develop joint actions that enhance the results of research and provide an immediate transfer to society and decision-making bodies in the field of public health, with a clear innovative vocation.
In addition, strategic actions are established, protocols and evaluation methodologies are harmonized, intervention programs based on scientific evidence are developed and support is given to the policies and programs that are developed in the public administrations in this regard. The network includes a common part for all groups, in which the methodological actions and the management of cooperative research are completed as well as the dissemination of the results. In addition, each group incorporates the most relevant support initiatives for the research projects in which they are already participating.
Since 2014, the EXERNET Network has signed with the American College of Sports Medicine the exclusive representation in Spain of the global health initiative “Exercise Is Medicine (EIM)” whose vision is to make the evaluation of physical activity and its promotion a standard in the clinical field, connecting health care with resources based on scientific evidence available to all members of society. Exercise Is Medicine Spain (EIM-Spain) includes different public institutions and medical associations at the national level.
EXERNET began in 2004 as a coordinated research project thanks to the funding Ministry of Education and Science (DEP2005-00046/ACTI) “Research Network on Physical Exercise and Health for Special Populations.” with three research groups from the University of Zaragoza (IP), Polytechnic University of Madrid and University of Granada, and has obtained later consecutive funding from the Ministry as well as from the National Sport Council.
The network is made up of numerous research groups from the different autonomous communities of the peninsula and islands of Spain, including the PROFITH research group. The network is continuously growing and the research groups currently belonging to the network can be consulted at the following link:
https://redexernet.com/grupos-de-investigacion/
This network has received funding for the creation and maintenance of the network in consecutive calls from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, as well as from the National Sports Council.
Thanks to the synergies and contacts of the EXERNET Network, coordinated actions are carried out among its members, such as the coordinated projects like PREFIT and PREFIT-UPled by the PROFITH group.
The EXERNET network organizes a congress with broad national participation on Exercise and Health every two years. Past and future events can be found at the following link: https://redexernet.com/congresos/
And you can check the news of the Exernet Network at the following link: https://redexernet.com/noticias/
Watch the presentation video of the PROFITH group for the EXERNET network website: https://youtu.be/xqegj_MwDGw?feature=shared
