Director: Richard Bloomer (vita)

Graduate Research Assistant:
Kelsey Fisher-Wellman (vita)
Andy Galpin (vita)
Heather Bell (vita)

General Lab Mission:

To investigate the effects of exercise and exercise training on the cardiorespiratory system and metabolism in untrained, trained, healthy, and diseased populations. Students and associates in the lab conduct submaximal and maximal cardiorespiratory exercise tests, anaerobic power tests, energy expenditure tests, pulmonary function assessments, and blood chemistry analysis for teaching, diagnostic, and/or research purposes.

Research Focus:

Our interests are within the area of oxidative stress and antioxidant therapy. Oxidative stress is a condition in which an imbalance exists between oxidant and antioxidant levels in such a way that oxidant production overwhelms antioxidant defenses, often leading to oxidation of lipids, proteins, DNA, and other molecules in ways that impair cellular function. The generation of these “reactive oxygen and nitrogen species” occurs in part as a consequence of normal cellular metabolism. Under ordinary physiologic conditions, the body’s endogenous antioxidant defense system, in conjunction with exogenous antioxidants consumed through dietary sources, act to protect small and macromolecules from modification and destruction via oxidants.

In addition to normal cellular metabolism, oxidants can be generated through exposure to a wide variety of environmental (e.g., cigarette smoke, ozone, certain nutrients) as well as physiological (e.g., physical and mental stress) challenges. Specifically, oxidative stress may be mediated by an increased activity of radical generating enzymes (e.g., xanthine oxidase), activation of phagocytes, phospholipases, cyclooxygenases, and lipoxygenases, release of heme proteins via destruction of iron containing proteins, through disruption of the electron transport system leading to increased leakage of superoxide radicals, and via suppressed antioxidant protection.

Although reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are constantly generated in cells and increase with physical exertion, their production does not necessarily lead to cellular modification and degradation. This is because there exist numerous defenses aimed to minimize their formation, or to neutralize their damaging effects once formed. These are categorized as antioxidant enzymes, antioxidant scavengers and miscellaneous antioxidant compounds, and metal-binding proteins.

The particular focus of our lab is to study oxidative stress in response to acute stressors, and to determine the degree of attenuation of oxidative stress following varying interventions. In particular, investigations routinely include the use of structured exercise, as well as antioxidant treatment, in an attempt to minimize oxidative tissue damage in both healthy and diseased individuals.