Skip to Main Content
California State University, Chico

Research and Scholarly Work

General Overview

The Exercise Physiology program is dedicated to conducting research-related activities that advance knowledge of human performance and health. Our goal is to use applied and basic science techniques to explore acute responses and adaptations to chronic exercise. In our program, expert faculty utilize a range of cutting-edge equipment and technology to mentor student-led, collaborative efforts that lead to professional presentation and peer-review publication.

  • A group of students, on the university track, holding a computer to analyze a student wearing a portable metabolic analyzer.

    Jack Azevedo, PhD

    Physiological and biochemical effects of acute and chronic exercise in individuals with chronic disease or dysfunction, e.g. type 2 diabetes, or spinal cord dysfunction. Mitochondrial adaptations with training and detraining. Effects of supplements on endurance performance.

  • Students and participants smiling and talking together during the Adapted Physical Education Sports Day.

    Josie Blagrave, PhD

    Dr. Blagrave’ research focuses on broadly on health and physical activity experiences of autistic individuals as well as access and sense of belonging of neurodivergent stakeholders in higher education. Dr. Blagrave specifically utilizes qualitative research methods to understand how we can better support disabled individuals in educational and physical activity spaces.

  • Staff member checking a students knee mobility with a machine.

    Andrew D’Lugos, PhD

    Dr. D’Lugos’ research focuses on skeletal muscle physiology as it relates to exercise performance and quality of life. Specifically, Dr. D’Lugos’ work integrates measurements at the level of the whole muscle down to the single cell, examining the physiological responses of skeletal muscle to challenging stimuli such as exercise, nutrition/medication, aging, and disease.

  • an image resembling an x-ray being shown on a laptop

    Feng He, PhD

    My research focuses on the role of oxidative stress on physiological responses to acute and chronic exercise in musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and immune systems within a variety of population. Specific research interests include:

    • Diet and weight loss
    • Static exercise training and muscle function
    • Nutrition supplementation and aging
    • Oxidative stress and chronic diseases
    • Environmental physiology
  • A person laying on an x-ray table

    Melissa Mache, PhD

    Dr. Mache is an applied biomechanist who uses standard biomechanical research instruments such as three-dimensional motion analysis, force plates, and electromyography to measure and describe human movement. Her primary research interest is to understand and encourage safe, skillful, and specific movement among individuals of all ages and abilities. 

  • Student playing pickleball in class.

    Ryan Perkins, PhD

    Dr. Perkins’ in an exercise physiologist whose research agenda has a clinical flavor to it, focusing on the inflammatory burden associated with aging/disease and benefits of exercise on these processes. More specifically, his interests include:aging and inflammation, metabolic disorders, adaptations to chronic exercise, and muscle immune infrastructure.

Select Scholarly Work

Peer-Reviewed Publications

  • Schubert MM, Astorino TA, Azevedo JL. The effects of caffeinated “energy shots" on time trial performance. Nutrients 5(6): 2062-2075, 2013.
  • D’Lugos AC, Fry CS, Ormsby JC, Sweeney KR, Brightwell CR, Hale TM, Gonzales RJ, Angadi SS, Carroll CC, Dickinson JM. Chronic doxorubican administration impacts satellite cell and capillary abundance in a muscle-specific manner. Physiol Rep 7(7): e14052, 2019.
  • He F, Chuang C-C, Zhou T, Jiang Q, Sedlock D, Zuo L. Redox correlation in muscle lengthening and immune response in eccentric exercise. PLOS ONE 13(12):1-19, 2018.

  • Yang, J., & Blagrave, J. A. (2024). Disability and physical activity perspectives of Hmong mothers who have a child with a disability. EUJAPA, 16(1), 15-15. doi: 10.5507/euj.2024.002  

    Blagrave, A. J., Colombo-Dougovito, A. M., & Healy, S. (2021). “Just Invite Us”: Autistic Adults' Recommendations for Developing More Accessible Physical Activity Opportunities. Autism in adulthood, 3(2), 179-186. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2020.0055 

  • Perkins RK, Lavin KM, Raue U, Jemiolo B, Trappe SW, Trappe TA. Effects of aging and lifelong aerobic exercise on expression of innate immune components in skeletal muscle of women. J Apply Physiol 136, 2024 

    Perkins RK, Miranda ER, Varshney P, Farabi SS, Quinn LT, Haus JM. Effects of acute aerobic exercise on circulating levels of sTLR and sRAGE profiles in normal- and abnormal-glucose-tolerant individuals. Physiol Rep 11, 2023. 

  • Lee, S., Davis, E., Mache, M., Hsieh, C. (2024). Application of Qualitative Movement Diagnosis on Sprint Start. ISBS Podium Presentation at the 43rd International Conference on Biomechanics in Sports, Salzburg, Austria. Retrieved from https://commons.nmu.edu/isbs/vol42/issu1/52 </span 

    Orozco, I.M., Hernandez, K., Mata, J., Todd, T. Mache, M., Jarvis, D. (2023). Evaluation of Skipping in College Students With and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 130(5), 2015-2030. DOI: 10.1177/00315125231194342