Applied Physiology

The Applied Physiology Laboratory (APL) advances health and wellness by expanding our understanding of acute and chronic challenges to physiology through human physiology experiments, pharmacokinetic studies, and protocol development. Our multidisciplinary approach permits end-users to define critical questions, which the APL addresses through carefully designed experimental protocols that integrate clinical physiology, animal models, and biochemical approaches to provide mechanistic insight and identify potential therapeutic targets.

We innovate to detect and predict physiologic derangements, optimize recovery, and improve performance. Central to our mission is translating research into practical applications. We are committed to distilling research findings into actionable guidelines and providing tailored fitness and nutrition information to the public and our users. We work to maximize use of current technology while developing and evaluating future technologies to improve detection and prediction of physiologic derangements.

Select Work

How does therapeutic hypothermia affect metabolic processes?: We investigated metabolic manipulation during therapeutic hypothermia to understand physiologic responses and optimize cooling protocols for clinical application.
Can glycopyrrolate prevent hypothermia-associated bradycardia?: We conducted a randomized crossover trial demonstrating that glycopyrrolate does not ameliorate hypothermia-associated bradycardia in healthy individuals, informing cardiac management during cooling.
What are the effects of cooling on metabolic suppression in healthy individuals?: We evaluated cooling protocols to facilitate metabolic suppression in healthy individuals, establishing foundational data for therapeutic applications in extreme environments and clinical settings.
Does dexmedetomidine reduce shivering during mild hypothermia?: We demonstrated that dexmedetomidine effectively reduces shivering during mild hypothermia in waking subjects, providing a pharmacologic strategy to improve cooling efficacy.
How does mild hypothermia alter drug pharmacokinetics?: We characterized changes in midazolam and diazepam pharmacokinetics during hypothermia, revealing important implications for medication dosing in cooled patients.
What are optimal methods for inducing therapeutic hypothermia?: We evaluated rapid intravenous infusion of cold and room temperature saline solutions, establishing core cooling rates and identifying high-dose diazepam as a facilitator of core cooling in healthy volunteers.