BIOBEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

VALUE

Our biobehavioral research seeks to understand the unique and combined characteristics that influence performance and readiness in military personnel. We are specifically interested in gene-environment interactions and how they may confer health traits that are either protective or increase vulnerability.
 

GOALS

• Quantify biobehavioral factors influencing health and performance
• Conduct novel interventions to promote health and performance
• Translate findings into products, policies and programs for the military community
   

CAPABILITIES

• Metabolic and cardiorespiratory fitness
• Muscular strength
• Genetic markers of stress and health
• Performance strategy (in training and operations)
• Behavioral health
• Body composition and bone density
• Salivary hormones and inflammatory markers
   

RESEARCH

• Combat and blast exposure blunt sympathetic response to acute exercise stress in specialized
  military men
• Development of a mobile application for estimating self-reported blast exposure over the
  lifespan, “Blast App 1.0”
• Trauma exposure predicts functional movement characteristics of male tactical athletes
• Establishment of an evidence-based human performance program, “U.S. Navy Explosive
  Ordnance Disposal STRIKE”.
• Blast exposure interacts with genetic variant 5HTTLPR to predict posttraumatic stress symptoms
  in military explosives personnel
• Psychological strategies during military training are linked to resilience in U.S. Navy Explosive
  Ordnance Disposal operators
• A genetic risk factor for major depression and suicidal ideation is mitigated by physical activity