Learning and Research Laboratories
The Department of Public Health and Exercise Science is home to several learning and research laboratories, formed by a faculty member or a group of faculty members in the Department and College, and housed in the lab spaces in the Leon Levine Health Sciences building. These laboratories contribute to the study and improvement of physical health and activity for local, global, and athletic communities.
Anatomy & Physiology Laboratories - The Anatomy and Physiology laboratories (rooms 344 and 351) are learning laboratories within the undergraduate Exercise Science curriculum. The Anatomy laboratory utilizes cadavers, a virtual cadaver (Anatomage table), various dissectable organs, and plastic and plastinated models as learning tools. The Physiology laboratory utilizes Biopac and other learning tools for hands-on experiments.
Biochemistry Laboratory - The Biochemistry laboratory (room 341) is a multidisciplinary learning laboratory for training undergraduate and graduate students, and houses state-of-the-art equipment where researchers measure a wide variety of biomarkers for health and disease in the fields of biomedical-, nutrition-, and exercise-related research.
Biomechanics Laboratory - The Biomechanics laboratory (room 125) focuses on the analysis of human movement in a variety of settings. Multiple faculty collaborate in this laboratory to examine athletic, injured, and diseased populations.
Cardiovascular Research Laboratory (CVRL) - The CVRL (room 118A) is interested in the study of the development of cardiovascular disease, especially amongst high risk populations, and interventions to prevent disease.
Exercise & Respiratory Physiology Laboratory (ERPL) - The ERPL (room 122) is interested in the study of how respiratory-related factors affect exercise performance in health and disease across the lifespan.
Exercise Physiology Laboratory (ESHPL) - The ESHPL (room 249) is home of the Community Health and Fitness Assessment Program, and offers testing opportunities for Appalachian and surrounding community members to help them improve and achieve their health and fitness goals.
Healthy Outdoor Play & Exercise Laboratory (HOPE) - The HOPE laboratory is an interdisciplinary research initiative interested in investigating the role of outdoor physical activity, exercise, and play on health, the environment, and human development.
Human Behavior in Physical Activity Laboratory (HBPA) - The HBPA laboratory focuses on human behavior in exercise science, with a primary focus on behavioral motivation in various settings.
Injury Neuromechanics Laboratory - The Injury Neuromechanics laboratory is formed from the Electrophysiology (room 120) and Biomechanics (room 125) laboratories, and is focused on conducting groundbreaking research in the field of sports medicine by studying the effects of injury on joint mechanics and the nervous system.
Locomotor Learning Laboratory - The Locomotor Learning laboratory (room 128) integrates community involvement, screening, and research for the betterment of the people of the high country by promoting healthy aging and independent lifestyles, in both geriatric and neurodegenerative disorders.
Musculoskeletal Mechanics Laboratory (MML) - The MML (room 125) uses a variety of biomechanical analysis techniques to explore principles of movement and the link between musculoskeletal structure and function.
Neuromuscular Laboratory - The Neuromuscular laboratory (room 124) is primarily a learning laboratory and contains equipment to prepare professionals for careers in strength & conditioning and sport science, including an area for isometric strength and general movement assessment.
Pediatric Exercise Physiology Laboratory - The Pediatric Exercise Physiology laboratory (room 122) is focused on identifying new wasy to assess children's health, investigating innovative and child-friendly methods for health promotion, predicting the likely outcome of future diseases, and investigating the effect of play-based activity on cardiovascular health and fitness.
Sports-related Traumatic Brain Injury Laboratory - The Sports-related Traumatic Brain Injury laboratory conducts research on athletes resulting in the development of improved procedures for monitoring subconcussive impacts, diagnosing concussion, and monitoring return to play.
Thermal and Microvascular Physiology Laboratory - The Thermal and Microvascular Physiology laboratory (room 118B), along with the Environmental laboratory (room 118E) investigate physiological responses to environmental stressors, including signaling mechanisms underlying thermoregulatory and microvascular dysfunction in primary aging and cardiovascular disease groups, as well as assessment of dermal carcinogen absorption and elucidation of key factors modulating absorption during occupational exposure in firefighters.
Vascular Biology & Autonomic Studies Laboratories (VBASL) - The VBASL (rooms 118C and 118D) investigate how exercise lowers blood pressure and how treatments, such as antioxidant supplementation and chronic exercise, can sustain positive health benefits.