Expanding Our Understanding of Human Physiology at the Intersection of Sex, Social Determinants of Health and Physical Activity
The Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory is housed within the SPH Department of Kinesiology and serves to expand our understanding of human physiology at the intersection of sex, social determinants of health and the benefits of physical activity, with a focus on the vascular system (arteries). Ongoing research investigates the influence of inflammation, fitness, social determinants of health and hormones on physiological differences within the vascular system between men and women. Additionally, in line with our research vision, we plan to address the role of exercise in chronic disease prevention, with emphasis on the menopausal transition.
Department: Kinesiology
Room Number: 2132
Director: Sushant Ranadive
Office Phone Number: (301) 405-4538
Email: hipl.research@umd.edu
Lauren Eagan, MPH
Lauren is a doctoral candidate in the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory. Lauren has a heavy interest in researching the roles of race and sex hormones on inflammation and vascular function. Her research passion is to expand the currently limited understanding of the physiological mechanisms contributing to increased risk for hypertension among underrepresented populations. In her free time, Lauren likes to knit hats and sweaters for her nieces.
Grants:
- Gebhardt Graduate Research Initiative Project Award, University of Maryland. May, 2020.
Honors:
- University of Maryland, School of Public Health, Jeremy C. Rietschel Graduate Mentorship Award. May, 2023.
- Greater Washington DC Area American Physiological Society Outstanding Poster Presentation Award. March, 2022.
- American Physiological Society, Endocrinology and Metabolism Section Research Recognition Award, Experimental Biology Annual Conference. May, 2021.
- Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for The American College of Sports Medicine, PhD Level Research Award Finalist. November, 2020.
- University of Maryland, David H. Clark Graduate Award. October, 2018.
- University of Maryland, Dean's Fellowship Award. August 2018.
Sara Mascone, MA
Sara is a doctoral candidate in the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory. She has led studies investigating the impact of low oxygen breathing on the cardiovascular system in young, healthy individuals of different sexes and the effects of aerobic exercise training on the cardiovascular system in older individuals with and without a predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease. Sara is looking forward to investigating the interplay of resistance exercise training and menopause in women. A fun fact about her is that she loves training service dogs for a local nonprofit organization!
Grants and Fellowships
- UMD Flagship Fellowship Recipient, Graduate School- University of Maryland. August 2021-May 2025.
- Racial Differences in Vascular Function Following Acute Intermittent Hypoxia. Grant recipient for the Graduate Research Initiative Project (GRIP). Department of Kinesiology- University of Maryland. September, 2020.
Honors and Awards
-2023 Doctoral Student Poster Award Second Place, MARC ACSM Regional Conference. November, 2023.
- Dr. Jack Wilmore Legacy Travel Award Winner. ACSM National Conference. June, 2022.
-James H. Humphrey Graduate Student Published Research Award. May, 2022.
- Master’s Student Investigator Award. MARC ACSM Regional Conference. November, 2021.
Cynthia Weiner
Cynthia is a PhD student in the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory. Her research interests include determining how sex hormones influence the vasculature, including the brain. Her favorite aspect of research is that it requires you to challenge yourself every day and to think outside the box. In her free-time, she enjoys taking her dog on local hikes, watching Shrek, and eating dessert.
Grants and Fellowships
- Graduate Research Initiative Project (GRIP)- February 2021
Honors and Awards
-2022 GSSI-ACSM Young Scholar Professional Development Award - March 2022
-School of Public Health 2022 Dean's Scholar Award - March 2022
-American Kinesiology Association (AKA) - MA Scholar Award- March 2022
Emily Blake, MPH
Emily is a doctoral candidate in the Human Integrative Physiology Laboratory. Her research focuses on the role of sex hormones and reproductive aging in the relationship between inflammation and vascular function. She loves research because it allows you to actively take steps to understand or solve a problem that you're passionate about. When she is not in the lab, she is probably trying out a new brewery, playing soccer, or on her couch in the middle of a long Netflix binge. Emily also serves as the Digital Editor for the American College of Sports Medicine's flagship open-access journal, Exercise, Sport, and Movement.
Grants and Awards:
2023 - UMD School of Public Health Seabury Aging Research Fellowship
2023 – American College of Sports Medicine (Mid-Atlantic Chapter) Doctoral Student Investigator Award Finalist
2021 - UMD Graduate School Faculty Student Research Award
2020 - UMD Graduate School Dean’s Fellowship
Franco Ortuno
Franco Ortuno is an undergraduate student in the Human Integrative Physiology Lab who assists with research studies. He majors in Kinesiology and his areas of interest include using physical activity to fight disease, how physical activity can improve mental health, and sleep disorders related to physical exercise. He is interested in research because he believes that we have only tapped on the surface between the link of physical exercise and longevity. His favorite hobby at the moment is Calisthenics, and a fun fact about him is that he can speak 3 languages, English, Spanish and French.
Lindsay Lotter
Lindsay Lotter is a graduate student who is working towards her Master in Public Health degree, with a concentration in health equity. Outside of academics, Lindsay enjoys watching true crime documentaries with her roommates, making Spotify playlists, and crocheting.
- Mascone, S. E., Eagan, L. E., Jacob, D. W., Limberg, J. K., and Ranadive, S. M. (2023). Naturally Menstruating Women Exhibit Lower Cardiovagal Baroreflex Sensitivity Than Oral Contraceptive Users During the Lower Hormone Phase of The Menstrual/Pill Cycle. Experimental Physiology. DOI: 10.1113/EP091394
- Blake, E. F., Eagan, L. E., Ranadive, S. M. (2023). Heart rate variability between hormone phases of the menstrual and oral contraceptive pill cycles of young women. Clinical Autonomic Research, 33(4), 533–537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-023-00951-z
- Mascone, S. E., Kim, K. I., Evans, W. S., Prior, S. J., Cook, M. D., & Ranadive, S. M. (2023). Race and sex differences in ROS production and SOD activity in HUVECs. PloS one, 18(10), e0292112. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292112
- Lefferts, W. K., Weiner, C. M., Mascone, S. E., Augustine, J. A., Heffernan, K. S., & Lefferts, E. C. (2022). Influence of sex and presence of cardiovascular risk factors on relations between cardiorespiratory fitness and cerebrovascular hemodynamics. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 133(4), 1019–1030. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00371.2022
- Eagan, L.E., Mascone, S. E., Chesney, C. A., Ranadive, S. M (2022). Arterial stiffness and blood pressure are similar in naturally menstruating and oral contraceptive pill using women during the higher-hormone phases. Experimental Physiology, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP090151.
- Mascone, S. E., Chesney, C. A., Eagan, L. E., Ranadive, S. M. (2021) Similar inflammatory response and conduit artery vascular function between sexes following induced inflammation. Experimental Physiology, 106(11), 2276–2285. https://doi.org/10.1113/EP089913
- Sapp, R. M., Chesney, C. A., Springer, C. B., Laskowski, M. R., Singer, D. B., Eagan, L. E., Mascone, S. E., Evans, W. S., Prior, S. J., Hagberg, J. M., Ranadive, S. M. (2021). Race-specific changes in endothelial inflammation and microRNA in response to an acute inflammatory stimulus. American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 320(6), H2371–H2384. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00991.2020.
- Ranadive, S. M., Dillon, G. A., Mascone, S. E., & Alexander, L. M. (2021). Vascular Health Triad in Humans With Hypertension-Not the Usual Suspects. Frontiers in physiology, 12, 746278. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.746278
- Eagan, L. E., Chesney, C. A., Mascone, S. E., Shenouda, N., & Ranadive, S. M. (2021). Interleukin-6 is higher in naturally menstruating women compared with oral contraceptive pill users during the low-hormone phase. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 131(2), 544–552. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00921.2020
- Ranadive, S. M., Lofrano-Porto, A., Soares, E., Eagan, L., Porto, L., & Smith, D. L. (2021). Low testosterone and cardiometabolic risks in a real-world study of US male firefighters. Scientific reports, 11(1), 14189. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93603-z
- Sapp, R. M., Chesney, C. A., Eagan, L. E., Evans, W. S., Zietowski, E. M., Prior, S. J., Hagberg, J. M., & Ranadive, S. M. (2020). Changes in circulating microRNA and arterial stiffness following high-intensity interval and moderate intensity continuous exercise. Physiological reports, 8(9), e14431. https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.14431
- Jacob, D. W., & Mascone, S. E. (2020). Intermittent hypoxia and sympathetic activation: To constrict or not to constrict, that is the question. The Journal of physiology, 598(6), 1125–1126. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP279534
- Sapp, R. M., Evans, W. S., Eagan, L. E., Chesney, C. A., Zietowski, E. M., Prior, S. J., Ranadive, S. M., & Hagberg, J. M. (2019). The effects of moderate and high-intensity exercise on circulating markers of endothelial integrity and activation in young, healthy men. Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985), 127(5), 1245–1256. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00477.2019
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