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, 347, and 351) are learning laboratories within the undergraduate Exercise Science curriculum. The Gross Anatomy laboratory (347) is equipped with downdraft tables and preparation areas for multiple cadavers. The Anatomy laboratory (351) utilizes a virtual cadaver (Anatomage table), various dissectable organs, and plastic and plastinated models as learning tools. The Physiology laboratory (344) utilizes Biopac and other learning tools for hands-on experiments.
Biochemistry Laboratory - The Biochemistry laboratory (room 341) is a multidisciplinary laboratory for research and 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.
Body Composition Laboratory - The Body Composition laboratory (room 127) is a core facility open to investigators for incorporating various methods of determining body composition into their research. The laboratory contains Bod Pod and Bioelectrical Impedance, and well as DEXA and pQCT technologies.
Cardiometabolic Research Laboratory (CMRL) - The CMRL (room 122) investigates the role exercise, physical activity, and sedentary behavior can have on various health-related outcomes.
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.
Community Health and Fitness Assessment Program - Housed in the Cardiopulmonary laboratory (room 122), the Community Health and Fitness Assessment Program offers testing opportunities for Appalachian and surrounding community members to help them improve and achieve their health and fitness goals.
Exercise Physiology Laboratory (ESHPL) - The ESHPL (room 249) is a learning laboratory within the undergraduate and graduate Exercise Science curricula. The laboratory has duplicate sets of aerobic and anaerobic fitness testing equipment (metabolic cart, treadmill, cycle ergometer, electrocardiography) as well as pulmonary function equipment.
Healthy Outdoor Play & Exercise Laboratory (HOPE) - The HOPE laboratory (room 432L) 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 (room 128) focuses on human behavior in exercise science, with a primary focus on behavioral motivation in various settings.
Injury Laboratory - The Injury 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.
Measuring Motion Laboratory (MML) - The MML (room 125) uses a variety of biomechanical analysis techniques to explore novel ways to accurately measure human movement in the field and validates those in teh laboratory setting.
Neuromuscular Laboratory - The Neuromuscular laboratory (room 124) is a research and 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 (room 341) 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 (rooms 118B and 118E) investigates 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 Laboratory (VBASL) - The VBASL (room 118C) investigates how exercise lowers blood pressure and how treatments, such as antioxidant supplementation and chronic exercise, can sustain positive health benefits. In addition, sleep architecture and its effects on physiological function is examined.