Science of Health Interventions
and Peak Performance (SHIPP)
The Student Life Study is a first-of-its-kind research project that will follow 10,000 Kent State University undergraduates throughout their time at college, to graduation, and beyond. By combining the components of both a cutting-edge research study and a personalized wellness program, the Student Life Study looks to better understand the risk and protective factors for mental, physical, occupational, and social health outcomes during the transition to college and into young adulthood. Smartphone-based interventions will be used to identify which exact treatment is best suited for a specific person at a specific point in time. More information can be found at the link above and video feature with KSU President Todd Diacon.
The Human Performance Education, Research, and Outreach (HERO) Initiative is an interdisciplinary program dedicated to helping people perform their best during athletic competition and other high stakes activities like military personnel and first responders, performing artists, and academic and business settings. Featuring an innovative collaboration between academics and athletics, the HERO Initiative is currently focused on promoting health and peak performance in elite athletes. Recent projects in sport science have examined aspects of heat stress, rest and recovery, and link between mental health and resilience. (Interview with Dr. Gunstad starts at 21:45).
Improving health and well-being
Our lab also collaborates on innovative projects looking to improve health outcomes, including better understanding the links between weight loss and brain function, using diet and exercise to promote brain health, developing smartphone-based "digital biomarkers" for early detection of Alzheimer's disease, tailoring substance use treatment to reduce risk of relapse, among many others. Findings from these and other studies can be found at pubmed.gov