Research Activities - Exercise Vascular Biology Lab
The Exercise Vascular Biology Laboratory (1400 square ft) is equipped to study blood flow and oxygen delivery to skeletal muscle. Dr. McCully is the director of this laboratory. Research is focused on determining whether flow limitations or impaired vascular function exist in various patient populations. The goal of these measurements is to determine if vascular limitations impair muscle metabolism, and whether vascular limitations can be reduced with increased physical activity. The key to these studies are the use of noninvasive measurement tools that are powerful yet applicable to frail populations. The measurement tools include Doppler ultrasound to measure arterial blood flow, near-infrared spectroscopy to measure oxygen delivery, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy to measure muscle metabolism. Current study populations include patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, acquired spinal cord injury, and suspected peripheral arterial disease.
