Research Interests My research is focused on factors that modulate the immune response to viral infection or vaccines. In particular, my laboratory is currently studying how aging impacts the immune response to influenza viral infection and influenza vaccine. We aim to understand 1) the impact of age on factors important in Type I interferon induction (TLR7 expression, signal transduction) and, 2) how Type I interferon-induced modulation of dendritic cell or T cell function is altered by age. Currently, we are seeking to identify the mechanism(s) by which moderate exercise improves resistance to influenza infection, and minimizes inflammatory responses within the respiratory tract in aged populations (a five year project funded by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease). We have recently completed another NIH-funded study demonstrating that moderate aerobic exercise in older adults improves antibody response to influenza vaccine, minimizes the age-related decline of T-cell immunity, and reduces inflammatory factors (CRP, TNFα,IL-6, IL-18). This study found that the improvements associated with exercise appear to be independent of psychosocial factors such as depression and stress. Other exercise-related studies in my laboratory focus on intense, prolonged exercise (typically performed by competitive athletes), and how this type of exercise may compromise immunity resulting in increased vulnerability to infection. Our additional ongoing work also funded by NIH is focused on studying how botanical products (Echinacea, St. John's Wort, and Prunella) may improve the immune response to viral infection and/or limit inflammation. Teaching I teach an undergraduate course on human disease and a separate course on the medical aspects of exercise and team-teach graduate courses in physiology or special topics. In addition, I serve as an M.S. and Ph.D. advisor to many students both within Kinesiology as well as within other biological-based programs (Ecology/Evolution/Organismal Biology, Genetics, Immunobiology, Neuroscience, Nutritional Sciences, Toxicology, Veterinary Pathology). Our research laboratory also involves many undergraduate pre-medical students in multiple ongoing research projects. Service/Outreach/Professional Activity I am an active member of the Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the International Society of Exercise Immunology. I regularly serve as a reviewer for an NIH study section and serve as a reviewer for over 15 scholarly journals. At the local level, I am involved in a task force to improve the health of our children through exercise, as well as teaching preschool and elementary school children about germ prevention. |
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Department of Kinesiology, 235 Forker Building, Ames, Iowa 50011
Phone: (515) 294-8009, Fax: (515) 294-8740, hhp@iastate.edu.
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