Football and Dementia – Free Public Lecture at CASES Conference 2026 – bookings open

CASES is pleased to open bookings for both its free Public Lecture and pre-conference (satellite) sessions on Tuesday 2 June.

The CASES Conference 2026 is taking place at Manchester Metropolitan University on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 June. Organisers are proud to offer free pre-conference opportunities to anyone with an interest in Sports and Exercise Science.

The Conference Public Lecture, Football and Dementia: What Do We Know and Where Are We Going? will take place on Tuesday 2 June 2026, 6-7pm. Dr Tiago Peçanha will explore the growing conversation around football and brain health, focusing on what science currently tells us about the links between heading the ball, head injuries, and the risk of dementia later in life. We’ll look at the latest research findings and discuss what’s being done in the sport to protect players.

This lecture is available to attend in-person at the Manchester Metropolitan University Business School, or to stream online. Bookings are essential.

About Dr Tiago Peçanha

Dr Tiago Peçanha is a Senior Lecturer in Cardiovascular Physiology in the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. His research focuses on the mechanisms underlying the development of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases across a range of conditions, as well as the effects of preventive and therapeutic interventions. His work spans conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, obesity, and lifestyle-related risk factors.

He has recently been awarded a grant from Alzheimer’s Research UK to investigate the acute effects of football heading and long-term football participation on cerebrovascular health. This work is being conducted at the Manchester Metropolitan University Institute of Sport, in collaboration with researchers from Loughborough University and the Director of Brain Health at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), UK.

Public Lecture: Book your in-person or online place today

In addition to the public lecture, several free and open ‘Satellite Sessions’ are taking place on Tuesday 2 June 2026 (Day zero) of the conference. These sessions are being delivered by CASES’ special interest and advisory groups offering CASES members and non-members an opportunity to hear from those working or researching within the specialism, discuss latest issues and findings, network and develop future projects.

Open Conference Satellite Sessions

Tuesday 2 June at Manchester Metropolitan University – all sessions are in-person, booking essential.

CASES Neurodiversity Special Interest Group presents:

Neurodiversity in Sport: Building awareness of neuroaffirmative practice and research
Time: 1-2.30pm

Presenters: Dr Laura Swettenham and Dr Kristin McGinty-Minister

About: This workshop responds to a growing recognition that neurodivergent athletes, coaches, and practitioners remain widely misunderstood within sport systems that are largely built around neuronormative assumptions.
More details and registration: Register here

CASES Sport Exercise and Health Analytics Special Interest Group presents:

Sample size calculation and the use of artificial intelligence in teaching and supporting data analysis
Time: 1-4pm

Speaker: Prof Tony Myers

About: This session is delivered in two parts. The first part addresses contemporary sample size calculation, moving beyond traditional power to explore Bayesian assurance and precision methods, with hands-on practice in G*Power, JASP, and R. The second part investigates the practical application of artificial intelligence. It will demonstrate how large language models can be ethically and effectively used to support and enhance the entire data analysis workflow, from planning and teaching through to the interpretation and reporting of results.

More details and registration: Register here

CASES Education and Training Special Interest Group presents:

Do you “know a 2:1 when you see one”? Social Moderation and Calibration of Academic Standards in Sport and Exercise Science

Time 1.30-3pm
Speaker: Prof Ian Sadler FCASES

About: This workshop will explore these ideas in more detail and model an approach to calibration of academic standards. You will review and make judgements on student performances during the workshop and then participate in a dialogic process of peer review with other participants in order to understand different points of interpretation.
More details and registration: Register here

CASES Integrity Advisory Group (IAG) presents:

From Principles to Practice - Advancing Welfare and Integrity
Time: 2-3.30pm

Speakers: Dr Andy Miles HonFCASES, Prof Sue Backhouse HonFCASES, Niall Murphy and Jinal Mehta

About: This session will provide a thorough overview of the Integrity Advisory Group (IAG), including its key priorities, projects and partnerships, with a particular focus on its work promoting clean and doping-free sport. The IAG has been addressing integrity-related issues, including clean sport and safeguarding, for several years and welcomes feedback from its members on key issues and priorities for the year ahead.

More details and registration Register here

CASES Paediatric Exercise Science Special Interest Group presents

Revitalising the Paediatric Exercise Science SIG: Building Consensus and Shaping the Future
Time: 2-4.30pm

Speaker: Dr Ashley Cox

About: Led by Dr Ash Cox, the session will outline plans to review key expert statements and position stands, while identifying new collaborative projects to advance our field. Open to all members and newcomers alike, this session invites participation, discussion, and shared direction for the future of paediatric exercise science.

More details and registration Register here

CASES Education and Training Special Interest Group presents:

Are your students feedback literate?

Time: 3.30-5pm

Speaker: Dr Katherine Burgess MCASES
About: To date the majority of research surrounding assessment feedback has been focussed on how the academic can give ‘better’ feedback to the students or how students can give ‘better’ feedback to each other. However more recently the narrative surrounding feedback has begun to change to put the student at the centre of the feedback research. This session will focus on how you can work with your students to improve their ‘feedback literacy’.
More details and registration: Register here

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI)

Co-creating solutions to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion topics in Sport and Exercise
Time: 4-5.30pm

Speakers: Dr John Fernandes and Emily Hansell

About: While the benefits of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) in sport and exercise science are clear, implementing it across research, practice, and teaching presents unique challenges. Join Emily and John in this interactive, problem-solving workshop to directly address these barriers. Emily and John will guide attendees through identifying specific topics where EDI is challenging to implement, and together, you'll brainstorm and devise concrete strategies to overcome these hurdles.
More details and registration Register here

CASES Technical Special Interest Group presents:

Revealing the Hidden Workforce: Best Practice, Evidence, and the Impact of Technical Expertise in Sport Science

Time: 4.30-5.30pm
Presenter: Amelia Dingley MCASES

About: This session showcases hands-on, lab-based best practice in technical delivery, teaching and research support, laboratory operations, safety and innovation.

More details and registration: Register here

Sports and Exercise Psychology Accreditation Route (SEPAR) Advisory Group presents:

One Case, Multiple Approaches: Undertaking Case Formulation in Sport and Exercise Psychology

Time: 4.45-5.45pm

Speaker: Dr Rob Morris FCASES

About: This workshop brings together experts from multiple modalities to demonstrate case formulation in practice. Using a single case, each practitioner will present their approach and formulation, enabling participants to compare frameworks and deepen understanding of coherent, evidence-informed case formulation in sport and exercise psychology.
More details and registration Register here

CASES Climate Action and Sustainability Advisory Group (CASAG) presents:

CASAG networking and showcasing best practice
Time: 4.45-5.45pm

Speaker: Dr Ash Willmott MCASES

About: This satellite session will showcase our Climate Action and Sustainability Advisory Group’s (CASAG) progress in embedding climate action and sustainability across sport and exercise science (SES) curriculum, research, and applied practice. It will highlight evidence-based strategies for the audience to take away and implement in their own work, including the Sustainable Laboratory Framework, Equipment Flip Scheme, and CASES-endorsed course support. Award winners will also present their innovative work to inspire and engage attendees, sparking new ideas and collaboration.

More details and registration Register here

CASES Members – invite only sessions

There are a small number of invite-only Satellite Sessions taking place on the same day. The relevant CASES Members will be notified by email about these.

For full details of the two-day conference visit our CASES Conference 2026 website. Early bird delegate ticket prices are available until Monday 13 April 2026.

Bridging Knowledge, Building Futures: Sport and Exercise Science Reimagined