Interdisciplinary Translational Health and Wellbeing Research and International Visionary Exchange Hub
Welcome to the Interdisciplinary Translational Health and Wellbeing Research & International Visionary Exchange Hub (I-THRIVE).
Our initiative is dedicated to creating a dynamic, global space for health research collaboration, with the goal of advancing health and wellbeing through translational research.
To thrive = to grow vigorously, flourish, prosper.
About the I-THRIVE Hub
The I-THRIVE Hub links specific research clusters at the University of Exeter (UoE) and the University of Queensland (UQ) to form an international hub that drives cross-transfer of evidence and expertise in translational health and wellbeing research. By facilitating the exchange of knowledge, we aim to:
- Reduce duplication and accelerate discovery through coordinated international research collaboration
- Create shared platforms and infrastructure that enable innovation in translational health and wellbeing research
- Generate global impact by connecting international expertise and accelerating the translation of research into practice.
The I-THRIVE Hub focuses on facilitating meaningful, sustained partnerships between UoE and UQ researchers through workshops and activities. The Hub is organised around three key themes:
1. Digital Health: exploring technological innovations that enhance health and wellbeing
2. Innovations in measurement: examining novel methods and tools to assess health outcomes and impacts
3. Challenges in implementation: addressing barriers to translating research into practice across different settings.
- Dr Sam van Beurden, Senior Research Fellow, Health and Community Sciences UoE
- Professor John Cairney, UQ HWCRI Director, Head of School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
- Associate Professor Nick Gilson, UQ School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, Theme Lead for Healthy Living at QUEX
- Dr George Thomas, UQ HWCRI Research Fellow, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
- Dr Samantha Mulcahy, UQ HWCRI Research Program Manager, School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences
I-THRIVE activities
Our core activities were designed to support:
- Discussion of shared research interests
- Identification of expertise, transferable evidence, and resources
- Development of long-lasting, multidisciplinary working relationships between UQ and UoE academics.
Workshops & Networking
We held 3 x 2-hour workshops that supported joint working, focused on one of the three themes:
Workshop 1: Digital Health - 18th March 2025
Identified strong interdisciplinary potential across diverse health research areas.
Barriers included:
- System fragmentation
- Usability issues
- Digital inequities.
Opportunities included:
- To develop curated digital tool repositories and unified access platforms
- To utilise merging tech (AI, wearables, digital twins) for real-time, personalised support.
Workshop 2: Innovations in Measurement - 3rd April
Barriers included:
- Rapid device evolution and platform instability are major barriers to robust validation
- Population‑specific measurement challenges, especially in remote, Indigenous, frail, and older adult groups
- Ethical and acceptability challenges around body‑worn sensors and wearable cameras
- Issues with measurement reactivity, short-term data capture, and device connectivity
- Recognised that global standardisation for accelerometer use and reporting is urgently needed.
Opportunities included:
- To repurpose existing datasets using modern AI and deep learning
- To utilise shared resources such as SOPs, “how‑to” guides, and dataset workshops.
Key takeaway:
Emphasised co‑production as essential for meaningful, culturally relevant measurement tools, as is the need to balance precision with feasibility and minimise burden on participants.
Workshop 3: Challenges in Implementation - 29th April
Barriers included:
- Adapting interventions for diverse populations risks diluting effectiveness, creating tension between fidelity and real‑world relevance
- Confusion around where research ends and implementation begins, contributing to inconsistent practice
- Competing priorities across funders, policymakers, teams, and stakeholders, requiring continuous negotiation
- “Framework overload,” with many implementation models but little guidance on selecting or operationalising them.
Opportunities included:
- Deep stakeholder listening, iterative development with real-world testing, co‑design methods, and using low‑tech prototypes early
- Leveraging students for short‑term projects, data collection, and multi‑site collaborations.
Key takeaway:
- Agreed on priority collaborative outputs, including a mapping review of digital health implementation, a publication on engaging neurodiverse participants, and joint grant applications.
Closing Symposium - 29th May
During the final workshop, we showcased the new collaborations that have developed, and we highlighted a range of early successes and reflected on the challenges encountered along the way. This discussion also provided an opportunity to outline the potential future direction of the I-THRIVE Hub.
Join us
We welcome researchers, innovators, and collaborators who are passionate about advancing health and wellbeing through translational research.
Stay tuned for upcoming events and more ways to get involved.
Contact our team:
Dr Samantha Mulcahy or Dr George Thomas.