I am currently a Professor of Kinesiology and Physiology and the Director of the Women’s Health and Exercise Laboratory at Penn State University. The Women’s Health and Exercise Laboratory is an active laboratory; we routinely perform assays for endocrine related projects, including reproductive and bone-related assays in serum, urine and saliva (JCEM, 1998, 83:4220-4232; Human Repro, 2010, 25:491-503). We are also experienced in the imaging of bone by both 2 and 3 dimensional strategies, including DXA and pQCT (Bone, 2013,56:91-100).
My research focus for 30+ years has been on understanding the complex interplay between metabolic, reproductive, and skeletal physiology in exercising women. I have extensive experience enrolling young women aged 18-30 in both intervention and non-intervention trials and working with complex data sets. I have a successful track record with the development, design and execution of clinical trials utilizing hormonal contraceptives, and diet and exercise interventions. As a previous Director of a Clinical Research Center, I have conducted a long list of interventions using an array of drug therapies, to include various estrogens and progesterone. I have also conducted lifestyle interventions that targeted translational outcomes while exploring underlying physiological mechanisms (AJP Endo Metab, 2015,308, E29-39). My recently completed RCT (Co-PI with NI Williams) funded by the DoD for 8 years, investigated the impact of increasing energy intake to 1) modify metabolic status, 2) initiate resumption of menses, including detailed analyses of daily urinary metabolites of estrogen and progesterone and luteinizing hormone collected for 12 months, and their relationship to various energetic factors and 3) improve bone density and bone quality in amenorrheic women with low bone mass.
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