The Health and Exercise Physiology Department Welcomes The TRACE Laboratory

Dr. Nicole Ivaska is the Director of the new Health and Exercise Physiology research lab, The Translational Research and Clinical Epidemiology (TRACE) Laboratory, which is located in the Wellness Center Building on campus.  

What is “translational research”?

Translational research in epidemiology is the study of risk factors and disease in human populations. This applies discoveries in the laboratory and translates them to studies in humans following a bench to bedside practice. Translational research may also assess the adoption of best practices in health care into community settings following a bedside to clinical practice.

What is clinical epidemiology?

Clinical epidemiology is the study of patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease in human populations. It also refers to the relationship between exposures or treatments and health outcomes. The classical definition is the “study of distribution and determinants of health-related states … or the study of health status among human populations”.

The TRACE Lab

Following a cell to society approach, the TRACE Lab will conduct human research studies that “trace” determinants of health using quantitative, qualitative, and/or mixed-methods research. Each analysis will also consider social determinants of health and the impact on human well-being. The TRACE Lab will incorporate subjective and objective patient assessment, risk determination, biomarker analysis, and translational methods to help bridge the gap between public health and clinical medical science. This research supports community-oriented public health. Emphasis will be placed on biomarkers related to public health research and exercise immunology including antibodies, hormones, growth factors, physiological stress, and psychological stress.