Francisco B. Ortega (Fran)

Francisco B. Ortega (Fran) is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Sports Sciences of the University of Granada, Spain. He serves as co-director of the PROFITH research group and co-heads the Physical Activity and Health Promotion Research Unit at the Joint University Institute of Sport and Health (iMUDS). His academic journey includes dual PhDs in Exercise Physiology (University of Granada) and Medical Sciences (Karolinska Institute) and postdoctoral work in Sweden and the USA.

• PhD, Exercise Physiology - University of Granada
• PhD, Medical Sciences - Karolinska Institute

His research focuses on:

• Physical fitness assessment and accelerometry
• Exercise effects on cardiovascular, mental, and brain health
• Wearable technology applications in sports science
• Obesity prevention via physical activity
• Longitudinal health outcomes from adolescent fitness

Recent publications highlight trends in global fitness norms, exercise interventions for coronary patients, pediatric obesity prevention through VR, and brain-cognition relationships in children. He received the prestigious Ramón y Cajal Research Fellowship and has led high-impact studies like the ActiveBrains and AGUEDA trials.