Research Activities in Kinesiology

The Kinesiology faculty investigate diverse and wide-spread topics. Some of us study the human body at the molecular level, others study the whole organism, and others look at humans from a societal level. The one thing we all have in common is that we all ultimately focus on human health.

We have specialists in physiology, anatomy, public health, health ethics, motor learning, nutrition, and biomechanics. Our labs and the research techniques are state-of-the-art. We use both animal and human models, as well as community health agencies to investigate our research questions.

Because ours is an undergraduate program, all our research assistants are undergrads. They are active partners in our research, and frequently co-author publications.

The Center for Balance and Aging Studies (CBAS)
	The Center for Balance and Aging Studies (CBAS) The Center for Balance and Aging Studies, headquartered in the Department of Kinesiology at William & Mary, explores factors that increase fall risk in the geriatric population. CBAS research includes collaborations between the Departments of Kinesiology, Physics, and Psychological Sciences.
	Human Performance Laboratory The Human Performance Laboratory investigates the effects of aging, gender, and disuse in metabolic, cardiovascular, and neuromuscular function. The Human Performance Laboratory is in the bottom level of Adair Hall on the main campus of William & Mary. For more information,contact the lab director, [[mrdesc, Professor Deschenes]].
	Cellular and Biochemistry Laboratory This laboratory focuses on the neuromuscular and neuroendocrine systems. We study these systems at both the cellular and organismal levels. We are particularly interested in how they respond to increased (exercise) or decreased activity (disuse/unloading.) Our recent work explored the interaction of aging with alterations in physical activity. For more information, contact the lab director, [[mrdesc, Professor Deschenes]]. To see references and publications, please use this link to PubMed. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Deschenes+MR
	Microscopy Laboratory The Microscopy Laboratory works to reveal the morphological adaptations of the neuromuscular system to exercise and disuse in aged and young systems. For more information, contact the lab director, [[mrdesc, Professor Deschenes]].
	Ignite Ignite, based at the Global Research Institute, is a multidisciplinary research lab that examines the allocation of global public health resources within the context of effectiveness, efficiency, and equity. For more information, contact the Project Leader, [[cbdolan, Professor Carrie Dolan]]
	Motor Control Laboratory The motor control laboratory explores the areas of motor imagery and communication between the hemispheres of the brain. For example, in the motor control laboratory, we conduct experiments to better understand the relationship between motor imagery and motor control. We are building on the idea that while motor imagery and motor control can affect each other, they do not cognitively represent each other. We also conduct experiments on the behavioral manifestations of hemispheric communication. Our preliminary data indicates that brain hemispheres inhibit each other during response initiation and during the execution of very simple responses. However, in some situations the hemispheres seem to cooperate with each other during the execution of more complex responses. For more information, contact the lab director, [[rmkohl, Professor Kohl]].
	Molecular and Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory The Molecular & Cardiovascular Physiology Laboratory investigates exercise-induced changes in cardiac and vascular function. Specifically, we look into changes in molecular mechanisms regulating heat shock proteins and nitric oxide synthases. Both nitric oxide synthases (NOS) and stress proteins play an important role in protecting the heart. We test for exercise-induced changes in NOS and/or stress protein expression in the heart muscles. We use models of exercise and various disease states to test exercise-induced changes in gene and protein expression in the cardiovascular system. These changes may have a role in preventing endothelial dysfunction in aging, hypertension, diabetes, and ischemia/reperfusion. For more information, contact the lab director, [[mbharr, Professor Harris]].
	Vascular Physiology Laboratory Research in the Vascular Physiology lab focuses on the function of arteries in normal and diseased states. The research group is particularly interested in the role of gap junctions (channels that connect the interiors of neighboring cells) in vascular function, and how the function of these channels is altered in those with risk factors for cardiovascular disease and during the process of vascular remodeling. For more information, contact the lab director, [[rlooft, Professor Looft-Wilson]].
	The Jack Borgenicht Altitude Research Facility The Jack Borgenicht Altitude Physiology Research Facility explores how altitude affects the human body. The lab is at 49 ft. altitude and is usually near 752 torr: approximately sea level, depending upon weather conditions. However, it can simulate atmospheres found at altitudes up to 18,000 feet. The Co-Directors are [[kwkamb,Prof. Ken Kambis, Ph.D.]] and [[mbharr, Prof. Brennan Harris, Ph.D.]]
	Center for African Development Research on Public Health We do research globally and have a focus on Africa as the continent with countries with some of the worst health indicators. We examine the political, economic, social and cultural issues that affect health outcomes across African countries. We are currently studying the effect of the high percentage of women in African parliaments on health outcomes, health reform policy in low and middle income countries, and social justice issues such as the historical and current health issues surrounding mining labor in Southern Africa. https://www.wm.edu/news/stories/2019/the-center-for-african-development-is-bringing-africa-to-wm.php For more information, contact [[iobasanjo, Professor Obasanjo]].

	Nutritional Epidemiology and Food Systems Laboratory The interdisciplinary Nutritional Epidemiology and Food Systems Laboratory conducts big-picture, frontier research at the nexus of human nutrition, public health, and planetary health. Professor Conrad and his team combine analytic techniques from data science, systems modeling, and epidemiology to investigate how dietary patterns impact 1) cardiometabolic health outcomes in large populations, and 2) environmental sustainability at the national and international levels. For more information contact the lab director, [[zsconrad, Professor Conrad]].