Centers, Clinics and Laboratories
Augmentative and Alternative Communication Laboratory
The Augmentative and Alternative Communication Laboratory focuses on working with individuals with complex communication needs including but not limited to the following diagnoses: Autism, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, Aphasia, and Head Injury. In addition to research, the lab strives to serve these populations clinically by providing access to AAC devices and other clinical support services such as evaluation, voice banking, device programming, instruction, and implementation.
Bioergonomics Lab
The BioErgonomics Lab investigates the impact of environmental and working conditions on various occupations, focusing on outdoor workers at risk of infectious diseases and climate-related health issues. The lab's research spans antibiotic resistance, vector-borne diseases, molecular biomarkers for musculoskeletal fatigue, and the health effects of heat and air quality. Collaborating with engineering, geology, and public health entities, the lab team emphasizes community-based participatory research. The lab's mission is to translate lab findings into practical solutions for the community, providing hands-on learning experiences for students and addressing global environmental health challenges.
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Center for Health and Human Performance
The Center for Health and Human Performance is located in a 2,000 ft2 space of the Ross Moore building. The facility is fully equipped to conduct fitness and strength and conditioning programs, as well as research protocols.
CHS Research, Evaluation, and Academic Center on Health Disparities (CHS REACHED)
CHS REACHED serves as the College of Health Science’s interdisciplinary center of excellence for evaluation and training for the next generation of health researchers.
Clinical Applied Physiology (CAPh) Lab
Atherosclerosis is associated with 90% of cardiac diseases and stroke. The CAPh Lab studies the effects of common lifestyle interventions (e.g. exercise and nutritional supplements) in the cardiovascular system, more specifically in the pathophysiological interactions with atherosclerosis. The CAPh Lab uses a “reverse translational’ model, where results observed in clinical populations in vivo are transferred to in vitro systems to study the molecular adaptations.
One of the goals of the CAPh Lab is to improve the efficiency of cardiovascular rehabilitation programs. This is significantly relevant when patients in all 50 states can have direct access to physical therapists. Improving efficiency of cardiovascular rehabilitation programs would increase access and compliance. In addition, the CAPh Lab is looking into “community-based’ cardiac rehabilitation programs in the next several years.
Experimental Foods Laboratory
The Experimental Foods Laboratory is located in a 392 square-foot space in the Health Sciences and Nursing Building, and is equipped with industrial cooking appliances and worktables. The laboratory is used for teaching and research activities.
Teaching related activities include healthy eating demonstration for students and community partners. Research activities include the preparation of test diets for various studies related to metabolic disease, prepared by student research assistants working under the direction of CHS faculty. Future research directions include the development of low-cost and culturally appropriate foods for the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases (e.g, type 2 diabetes). Newly developed foods will be analyzed in the College’s Nutrient Analysis Laboratory for macro-and micro-nutrient composition.
Experimental Pain Research Laboratory
The Experimental Pain Research Lab is dedicated to the investigation, understanding and effects of the pain modulatory system and biopsychosocial factors in the development of musculoskeletal chronic pain. The lab utilizes the most current knowledge in the area of pain to educate future scientists and health professionals, and collaborates with scientists from several disciplines (Physical Therapy, Public Health, Rehabilitation Counseling, Pharmacy, and Neuroscience) to connect their expertise and increase understanding of the pain puzzle.
The Experimental Pain Research Lab is led by Dr. Carolina Valencia, director of the Bachelor of Science in Rehabilitation Sciences Program.
Human Immunology and Nutrition Research Laboratory (HINRL)
The Human Immunology and Nutrition Research Laboratory (HINRL) is located in a 3,000 sqauare-foot space in the College of Health Sciences main building. The bench laboratory is equipped for the collection, handling and processing of blood samples and is equipped to perform both clinical chemistry and immunochemistry.
Metabolism, Nutrition, & Exercise Research (MiNER) Laboratory
The Metabolism, Nutrition, & Exercise Research (MiNER) Laboratory is located in a 2,900 ft2 space in the College of Health Sciences main building. The MiNER Laboratory is comprised of eight independent rooms and a bench laboratory area facilitating a research capacity that spans from large population descriptive surveys to very complex molecular and endocrinological mechanisms of disease. This research space is highly conducive and supportive of the interdisciplinary collaborative culture of the College of Health Sciences.
Minority Aids Research Center (MARC)
The Minority Aids Research Center (MARC) seeks to remove HIV/AIDS-related disparities and inequities among minority populations around the globe while simultaneously demonstrating research and teaching excellence through access and educational opportunity to the people of the El Paso region and beyond. MARC seeks to provide sustainable education in basic and applied health sciences, in combination with translational and clinical research. These efforts lead to behavioral and technological innovation that directly impact graduating health practitioners and biomedical professionals, while simultaneously reducing HIV/AIDS-related disparities and inequities among minority populations.
Motor Control and Virtual Reality Research Laboratory
The Motor Control and Virtual Reality Research Laboratory is located in a 1,000 ft2 space in the College’s Campbell Building. This laboratory, the first of its kind in the far west Texas/El Paso region, is dedicated to understanding the cognitive as well as neuromuscular factors involved in human movement by developing and applying experimental and computational methods. We are interested in examining both basic science and clinically relevant research questions in human movement, specifically in upper limb coordination, fine motor control, executive planning and human-computer interaction among healthy adults and populations with movement disorders.
Muscle Molecular Physiology Laboratory
The Muscle Molecular Physiology Laboratory investigates the effects of exercise on both cardiac and skeletal muscle physiology. Specifically, the lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of exercise that can protect cardiac and skeletal muscle against muscle diseases. Our research has important implications in human disease, including the development of skeletal muscle atrophy, muscular dystrophy, muscle degeneration and heart failure.
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NeuroEXCEL Laboratory
The NeuroEXCEL team uses advanced methodologies, including interviews, to understand the challenges and mindsets of stroke survivors, as well as wearable sensors to track physical activity and sedentary behaviors, offering valuable, real-time insights into the daily patterns of stroke survivors. These combined efforts aim to significantly advance the field of neurorehabilitation, tailoring effective strategies for stroke survivors' rehabilitation and recovery. Our objective is not just to gather data, but to use this information to develop effective interventions that can enhance the quality of life for stroke survivors. By understanding their physical activity patterns and the psychological factors influencing these behaviors, we aim to create targeted strategies to significantly reduce sedentary lifestyles and promote more active and healthy living.
Nutrient Analysis Laboratory
The Nutrient Analysis Laboratory is located in a 392 square-foot space in the Health Sciences and Nursing Building and is equipped for the analysis of macro- and micro-nutrient composition of food and biological samples.
Pain Research in Mechanism-Based Physical Therapy Laboratory (PRIME PT)
The PRIME PT Lab seeks to better understand chronic pain mechanisms and to develop innovative physical therapy approaches for people with chronic pain conditions such as knee osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. The lab team uses state-of-the-art techniques and advanced research methods to pursue these goals. The PRIME PT Lab is directed by Dr. Kosaku Aoyagi, assistant professor of Physical Therapy.
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Projection of Identity (PRIDE) Laboratory
The PRIDE Lab focuses on the acoustic-phonetic variability that differentiates speakers of diverse gender identities (e.g., agender, non-binary, transgender men and women, and cisgender men and women) and listeners' perception of this variability. The broad goals of the PRIDE Lab are to examine how gender identity and expression are constructed and communicated between speaker and listener; and contribute to our understanding of the perceptual representation of speech.
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Speech and Hearing Clinic (SHC)
The Speech and Hearing Clinic (SHC) occupies 3,000 square feet in the College’s Campbell Building. This clinic is equipped for research purposes, and also serves as a teaching clinic that provides quality diagnostic and therapy services in English and Spanish for UTEP students, faculty, staff and their families as well as for community members with communication disorders.
Stanley E. Fulton Gait Research & Movement Analysis Lab
The Stanley E. Fulton Gait Research & Movement Analysis Lab is located in a 2,000 square-foot space in the Larry K. Durham Building, with four additional rooms for subject interviews and preparation. Studies conducted in the lab are dedicated to understanding biomechanical and neuromuscular factors involved in human movement through experimental and computational methods.
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Voice, Brain and Language Lab
The Voice, Brain and Language Lab is dedicated to studying the recovery of auditory comprehension in individuals with aphasia following a stroke or other brain damage. The lab also examines other cognitive processes such as attention.
