Prof Edward Winter Early-to Mid-Career Researcher Project Grant Recipients Announced
26th October 2026
The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) is pleased to announce that Dr Hannah Lithgow MCASES of Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, and Dr Laura Johnson MCASES of Edge Hill University are the latest recipients of the CASES Prof Edward Winter Early-to Mid-Career Researcher Project Grant.
The grant offers up to £5,000 annually to support early- to mid-career researchers in developing their professional identity and advancing impactful sport and exercise science research. The award is designed to support projects where the necessary resources and infrastructure are already in place, helping researchers generate meaningful findings while strengthening their career development.
Dr Hannah Lithgow, Assistant Professor in Exercise Physiology at Heriot-Watt University, received funding for her project - Associations of Vitamins D and K with Musculoskeletal Health in Women Across the Menopausal Transition: A Cross-Sectional Study.
The research will investigate whether vitamin D and vitamin K status are associated with musculoskeletal health in pre-, peri- and post-menopausal women. By recruiting women aged 26-65 and assessing factors including physical activity, nutrition, bone density, muscle strength, functional movement and blood biomarkers, the study aims to improve understanding of how nutritional factors may support healthy ageing and quality of life for women during and after menopause.
Commenting on the award, Dr Lithgow said:
“As an Early Career Researcher in Exercise Physiology, the CASES Prof Edward Winter Early- to Mid-Career Researcher Project Grant has provided me with a pivotal opportunity to accelerate my transition to research independence and establish myself as a leading researcher in female musculoskeletal health.
“Receiving this CASES Grant provides my PhD student and I with recognition of the value of our research. This endorsement also strengthens my academic reputation and enhances my competitiveness for future funding opportunities, promotions, and collaborative partnerships.”
Meanwhile, Dr Laura Johnson, Senior Lecturer in Sport, Physical Activity and Health at Edge Hill University, was awarded funding for her project - Understanding Engagement, Completion and Retention in the NHS Couch to 5K Programme.
The project will explore how people engage with and experience the NHS Couch to 5K programme through a national survey of current and former participants, alongside analysis of anonymised user data. The findings will help identify factors influencing engagement, completion, drop-out and long-term participation, providing valuable evidence to inform the future development of beginner running initiatives and support more people to become and remain physically active.
Dr Johnson said, “Receiving this grant is an exciting opportunity to take the next step in my research on beginner running and physical activity participation. After two periods of maternity leave over the past seven years, it provides an opportunity to build research momentum and move from smaller-scale studies to a larger programme of work with real-world impact.
“I'm particularly excited that the findings could directly inform the future development of beginner running programmes and help support more people to become and remain physically active.”
The Prof Edward Winter Early-to Mid-Career Researcher Project Grant reflects CASES' commitment to supporting emerging research leaders and fostering innovative projects that can deliver meaningful benefits for health, performance and participation across sport and exercise science. Recipients are also invited to share their findings with the profession through reporting and presentation opportunities at future CASES conferences.
