There is a lot to be said about the Human Performance Laboratory, which is a key research hub for the College of Health, since 1965, when they were founded by Leroy “Bud” Getchell, who was joined by Dr. David Costill in 1966. Originally, the lab operated out of a 20-by-30-foot room off of the then-University Gymnasium (which as of today, “the Gym” is part of the JoAnn Gora Health and Recreation Center) The lab moved into its current home in the Human Performance Building in 1990.

Dr. Scott Trappe, the John and Janice Fisher Endowed Professor of Human Bioenergetics, currently oversees the lab which houses students for three highly competitive graduate programs. Faculty routinely produce research for national publications in the field of aging and exercise, microgravity and exercise, physiology of human performance, pediatric exercise, and clinical exercise physiology.

One major project is the relationship and research with NASA that began in 1994 to understand how the body adapts to the microgravity environment of space, and the role that exercise can play in offsetting the negative effects.

These studies have examined astronauts following a 17-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle (LMS), astronauts and cosmonauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) for 6 months, and continues today with crew members currently onboard the International Space Station.

Dr. Todd Trappe, professor of Exercise Science, is excited to announce, “two peer-reviewed publications from our latest scientific work with NASA that were published in the Journal of Applied Physiology. They represent many years of work that integrated many HPL PhD and MS students, along with faculty and staff.”

You can read these articles here:

1. NASA SPRINT exercise program efficacy for vastus lateralis and soleus skeletal muscle health during 70 days of simulated microgravity
2. Exercise microdosing for skeletal muscle health applications to spaceflight

If you’re interested in learning more about the School of Kinesiology programs. Or other offerings from the College of Health visit our website.