The Gatorade Sports Science Institute: Innovating hydration and performance

Every sip of Gatorade, Propel, or Muscle Milk carries a legacy of science behind it. For 40 years, PepsiCo’s Gatorade Sports Science Institute (GSSI) has pushed the boundaries of sports nutrition and human performance, translating cutting-edge research into real-world impact.

A legacy of innovation

Since 1985, GSSI has been fueling PepsiCo’s sports-science prowess. The work started as a modest exercise physiology lab tucked inside the Quaker Oats R&D facility in Barrington, Ill., and has since grown into an internationally respected hub of research. In 1988, it officially became the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, with a bold mission: to help athletes unlock their full potential through research, education, and service in hydration and nutrition science.

Today, the institute partners with respected academic institutions like the University of Connecticut and Northwestern University, and it operates advanced research, education, and athlete-testing facilities at the PepsiCo R&D headquarters in Valhalla, N.Y., as well as at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. and The Star facility in Frisco, Texas. GSSI has worked with athletes from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, F1 and more.  

That depth of science doesn’t stay in the lab — it shows up in the bottle. When GSSI’s research meets PepsiCo’s brands, insights ranging from sweat rates to sleep and recovery and more are transformed into real-world innovation. The result is breakthrough products like Gatorlyte, Gatorade Chews, Propel Energy Boost, Gatorade Endurance Formula, and the new Gatorade Lower Sugar, launching later this year — recipes that balance performance-driven functionality with great taste, while also earning recognition at global conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. 

Behind that work is a team deeply embedded in both science and sport. “At GSSI, we have a passion for what we do,” says Matthew Pahnke, head of GSSI. “Many of us are athletes, practitioners, and of course scientists. We translate that lived experience into consumer-centric rigor — products, education, and services that help improve performance of consumers and deliver a scientific advantage for PepsiCo.”

Expertise in action

The knowledge housed at GSSI translates into something you can see, feel or taste through deep research, applied science, education and innovative tools, all geared toward creating products to help athletes and active individuals perform at their best.

This work comes to life through:

• Hydration and Nutrition Science: At GSSI, understanding how athletes sweat is the starting point. Those insights are then turned into practical tools that help athletes hydrate smarter. Innovations like the Gx Sweat Patch deliver personalized, science-backed hydration recommendations, while the Smart Gx Bottle uses sensors in its cap to keep track of how much you drink, like a fitness tracker for your water bottle. GSSI has also created tools such as the Fluid Loss Calculator, which estimates hourly sweat rate, and the Fuel Habits Survey, a quick snapshot of an athlete’s nutrition habits for a single training session or competition. Teams are bringing the science lab to phones this spring by launching a GSSI Labs app that works with smart watches and fitness trackers and gives helpful tips to stay healthy and strong, while also helping scientists learn more about sports and health.

• Education and Outreach: The education program brings GSSI’s science to life across multiple platforms. It powers the GSSI website and fuels content for initiatives like Gatorade Performance Partner — a resource hub for coaches and sports health professionals — as well as conference activations and immersive learning programs. GSSI also collaborates with university faculty through its GSSI Professors program and publishes Sports Science Exchange (SSE) articles that provide continuing education units (CEUs) for sports health professionals. 
  
  At the center is GSSI University, an on-demand learning platform that gives coaches, students, nutritionists, and trainers access to a robust library of science-based resources. From lecture decks and virtual labs to podcasts, animated videos, and instructor toolkits, these materials support applied learning and help shape both product innovation and how PepsiCo brands translate science for consumers.

• Research and Partnerships: Whether it’s teaming up with universities, investing in external research, or supporting new product launches, the people behind GSSI are always pushing to learn more — and putting those insights to work across PepsiCo’s products and brands. Inside the lab, scientists use advanced tools like heat chambers as well as tests that measure how your body uses energy, and what it’s made of to better understand hydration, fueling, performance, and recovery. That work spans a wide range of people, from youth and female athletes to “industrial athletes,” which are people with physically demanding jobs, helping ensure the science reflects real bodies, real work, and real life.

Shaping the future of sports nutrition

Through PepsiCo’s Life Sciences division, GSSI’s impact extends well beyond the lab — into nutrition, consumer habits, and broader wellness trends. By bringing together experts across health, innovation, policy, and clinical research, the institute helps translate cutting-edge science into products and educational tools that empower people to make smarter, more informed choices every day.

At the center of that work is a deeply collaborative team of scientists, nutritionists, coaches, and brand leaders, all aligned around a shared goal: turning rigorous research into products and experiences designed for real life. As Matt explains, it’s a mindset rooted in understanding people first — how bodies function, adapt, and perform — and using that knowledge to reach beyond elite sport. “To truly understand the athlete, you start with human physiology. That core expertise now guides our expansion into active consumers-bringing credible hydration insights beyond sport.”

And the opportunity ahead is even bigger. As GSSI continues to unlock new insights in hydration, fueling, and exercise science, PepsiCo can continue to create smarter recipes, deliver more personalized hydration guidance, and educate consumers — offering products that actively support performance, well-being, and active lifestyles.