Human Performance Laboratory
The Human Performance Laboratory (HPL) is a research laboratory located within the Department of Military and Emergency Medicine. It is an interdisciplinary laboratory where research scientists trained in exercise physiology, nutritional biochemistry, sports psychology, immunology, endocrinology, and psychology work with physicians, medical students, graduate students, and others to investigate various aspects of human performance and stress physiology. The laboratory is fully equipped to assess various components of physical performance, including muscular strength and endurance, anaerobic capacity, and cardiovascular function. In addition to physiologic measures, metabolic, endocrine, immune, and other biochemical responses to exercise are typically examined.
The focus of the HPL is primarily human research, both laboratory and field studies; however, animal and cell culture models have been used to address specific hypotheses. Field studies have included research on: participants in the First Women's Olympic Trials in Olympia, Washington; trainees at the U.S. Navy SEAL training center in Coronado, California; new recruits in the Israeli Defense Force; and participants in triathlons, marathons, and 100-mile endurance runs. In addition, two field studies at altitude have been conducted: one in the mountains of Colorado and Wyoming and one on Mount Everest in Nepal. Both of these projects investigated the rationale for recommending high carbohydrate diets at altitude. Projects have been funded by the U.S. Navy Medical Research and Development Command, the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, the U.S. Air Force Surgeon General, the National Institutes of Health, and other sources.
Mission of the HPL
- To maintain a center of excellence for conducting clinical and basic research investigations that add to our understanding of factors that enhance human performance and/or counteract degradation of performance.
- To provide graduate students, medical students, and other students and personnel at USUHS opportunities to participate in educational research experiences relating to enhancement of human performance, mechanisms of human performance degradation, human nutritional issues, risk factors for training-related injuries, and other projects relevant to military training and operations.
- To serve as a resource to the USUHS and other Department of Defense (DoD) facilities for information relating to health, physical fitness, nutrition, and physical training programs.
- To maintain a strong research program for all aspects of human performance and military applications.
- To establish and maintain collaborative relationships within USUHS and other DoD facilities that share common goals and objectives.
- To serve the greater Washington Metropolitan community by offering high school students opportunities to work in a research setting.
Projects carried out over the past years:
- Nutrition manual specific to SEAL training and applicable to other military special forces and civilian law enforcement SWAT units: The Navy SEAL Nutrition Guide.
- Energy expenditure and nutritional needs of Navy SEAL candidates to enhance training and mission performance success.
- Sustained operations ration testing at moderate altitude.
- Energy balance during sustained operations at high altitude.
- Endocrine responses to stress during lactation.
- Comparisons of fluid replacement beverages during exercise.
- Effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation on exercise performance
- Zinc and Vitamin E supplementation and immune responses to exercise.
- Diet and hydration manual for Navy divers.
- Physical Performance Battery and Drug Testing for Army Medical Research and Development Command Development and implementation: Validation with militarily relevant drugs.
- Physical and psychological stress response in Navy SEAL trainees.
- Clinical investigations of endocrine, immune and metabolic interactions with exercise, in particular, mechanisms of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA).
- Concordance between the endocrine and metabolic responses to physiologic and mental stress.
- Determining the effects of various nutritional agents on physical and cognitive performance in Naval Special Warfare personnel.
- Preparation of a book for the Navy SEALs: The Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide.
- Sentinel Injury Surveillance of fractures and stress fractures at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
- Validation of the U.S. Air Force Cycle Ergometer Fitness Test.
- Clinical investigations to examine interactions between HPA axis and immune function in clinical conditions such as autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and several depressive disorders.
Acrobat Reader Files:
- Navy SEAL Nutrition Guide and Physical Fitness Guide Photo and Ordering info (this is not the actual guide)
- Navy SEAL Fitness Guide
- Force Health Protection: Nutrition and Exercise Resource Manual
- Peak Performance Through Nutrition and Exercise Ergogenics Pamphlet
- Dietary Supplements and Military Divers: A Synopsis for Undersea Medical Officers
Active Protocols:
Exertional Heat Illness: An Investigation of Risk Factors, Biomarkers, and Thermal Tolerance
Functional Movement Screening
Effects of Caffeine and Heat Exposure on Exercise Induced Creatine Kinase
Exertional Heat Illness: Biomarkers for Prediction and Return to Duty
Previous Protocols
Heat Casualties in Marine Corps Officer Candidate School Training: An Analysis of Risk Factors and Biomarkers
Acceptability of Enlyten ™ Strips ™
Enlyten™ Electrolyte Sport Strips™ for the Acute Treatment of Exercise Associated Muscle Cramps in a Mass Participation Event: A Double Blind Intervention Trial
Differential Responses to Exertional Stress: A Genetic Perspective
Understanding and Characterizing Insulin Resistance and Obesity in East Asians in the U.S.
CNP Motor Neuropathy
Metabolic evaluation of Combat Personnel
Behavior Choice Treatment Promotes Weight Maintenance.
Effects of Immersion Pre-Cooling on Performance During and After Warm Water Exercise
Effects of warm water swimming and treadmill exercise on fluid regulation.
Endocrine and Immune Interactions with Exercise: DHEA Effects on Performance.
Gas Switching for Naval Aviators.
Physiologic and Endocrine Correlates of Overweight and Obesity in African Americans and Caucasians.
Randomized, Placebo Controlled Study to Assess the Safety of Combination Preventative Treatment with Pyridostigamine, DEET, Permethrin.
Exercise-Induced Changes in Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Activity in Fibromyalgia.
Tyrosine Effects on Physical and Cognitive Performance.
Management of Oxygen Toxicity: Antioxidant Therapy for Pulmonary Stress.
Toxicity of Low Frequency Sound Exposure.
Immunological Response to Hyperbaric Exposure and Rapid Decompression.
Navy Health Promotion Manuals: "Force Health Protection: Nutrition and Exercise Resource Manual" and "Peak Performance Through Nutrition and Exercise." Ergogenics in Special Operations: Creatine, Military Performance and Thermal Stress.
Nutrition and physical fitness manuals specific to SEAL training and applicable to other military special forces and civilian law enforcement SWAT units: "The Navy SEAL Nutrition Guide" and "The Navy SEAL Physical Fitness Guide."
Effect of Choline Supplementation on Physical and Cognitive Performance.
Mental Stress Reactivity in High and Low Stress Responders.
Energy expenditure and nutritional needs of Navy SEAL candidates to enhance training and mission performance success.
Sustained operations ration testing at moderate altitude.
Energy balance during sustained operations at high altitude.
Endocrine responses to stress during lactation.
Comparisons of fluid replacement beverages during exercise.
Effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation on exercise performance.
Zinc and vitamin E supplementation and immune responses to exercise.
Diet and hydration manual for Navy divers.
Physical Performance Battery and Drug Testing for Army Medical Research and Development Command Development: Validation with militarily relevant drugs.
Physical and psychological stress response in Navy SEAL trainees. Clinical investigations of endocrine, immune, reproductive hormones, and metabolic interactions with exercise, in particular, mechanisms of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA).
Concordance between the endocrine and metabolic responses to physiologic and mental stress.
Determining the effects of various nutritional agents on physical and cognitive performance in Naval Special Warfare personnel.
Sentinel Injury Surveillance of fractures and stress fractures at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
Validation of the US Air Force Cycle Ergometer Fitness Test.
Clinical investigations to examine interactions between HPA axis and immune function in conditions such as autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and several depressive disorders.
Characterization of the SOF Community Norm on the SOF Mission-Related Performance Battery.
Hand Thermal Protection: Heated Glove System.
Comparison of Instruments to Measure Bone Mineral Density.
Cardiovascular Responses to Mental Stressors and Exercise: Role of Obesity and Depression
Health and Metabolic Status in African Americans
Enlyten™ Survival Strips™ for Preventing Dehydration and Performance Decrements: A Double Blind Intervention Trial
Capabilities
Bicycle Ergometry
Blood Gas Analysis
Blood Glucose and Lactate
Body Composition Determination:
Skinfold Measurements
Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer
Circumference Measurements
Body Temperature and Blood Pressure in Conscious Mice
Body Temperature Monitoring in Humans (Thermal Pill and Rectal Probes)
Chemiluminescence for oxidant and antioxidant assessments
Clinical Chemistry
Cognitive Function Assessment
Complete Blood Cell Counts (CBC)
Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status Assessment
ELISA: Plasma Cytokine Concentrations
Glucocorticoid Receptors
Heat Tolerance Testing
Hemolytic Analysis
Hormonal Assays:
Measuring plasma concentrations of:
ACTH, Cortisol, DHEA/S, Growth Hormone, Prolactin, Arginine, Vasopressin, Estradiol, Progesterone
Measuring serum concentrations of:
Creatine Kinase
Immune Assays:
Immunophenotyping:
CD markers for various lymphocyte subsets
Mineral Assays:
Zinc, Copper, Magnesium, Calcium, Iron
Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status Assessment
Molecular Lab
Genetics: DNA and mRNA Extraction, DNA Sequencing, qPCR, RT-PCR, TaqMan Probe, SNP and VNTR Analysis
Protein: ELISAs and Western Blots
Muscle Strength and Endurance Testing:
Biodex Machine
Automated SOCCOM Handgrip Dynamometer
Phlebotomy
Portable Gas Exchange System
Psychological Questionnaires
Radioimmunoassays:
Insulin
DHEA
Sodium and Potassium in Fluid
Special Operations Command Physical Performance Assessment Battery
Treadmill Stress Testing
Contact Information
Uniformed Services University
MEM Office: C1039
4301 Jones Bridge Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
Phone (301) 295-3720
DSN: 295 3720
Toll Free: 888 826-3126
FAX (301) 295-6773
Resources
Programs
- Consortium for Health & Military Performance (CHAMP)
- Center for Disaster & Humanitarian Assistance Medicine
- Human Performance Laboratory
- Traumatic Injury Research Program
Medical Education
- Introduction to Military Medicine
- Combat Medical Skills
- Military Applied Physiology
- Military Medical Field Studies
- Military Studies II
- Emergency Medicine Clerkship
- Military Contingency Medicine Clerkship
- Operational Medicine Electives Clerkship