Research Projects & Grants

For Profit Organization

  • A pilot study to evaluate various methodologies for assessing the treatment of low back pain., Role: Investigator, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, (12/2009 - 12/2010) Status: Completed
  • A comparison of ThermaCare heat wraps to Icy hot cream and Icy hot patches for deep tissue heat penetration: A pilot study, Role: Investigator, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (04/2009 - 04/2010) Status: Completed
  • Reducing pain in people with chronic back pain using dry and moist heat wraps, Role: Investigator, Procter & Gamble Company, (10/2008 - 10/2009) Status: Completed
  • Weight Management for the Remission of Type 2 Diabetes Using A Proprietary Meal Replacement System, Role: Investigator, Orgain, Inc., (03/2021) Status: Approved
  • Use of Thermacare heat wraps as an adjunct to physical therapy, Role: Investigator, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, (04/2013 - 04/2014) Status: Completed
  • The effect of heat and cold treatment on reducing delayed onset muscle soreness, Role: Investigator, Pfizer Inc., U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group, (12/2012 - 12/2013) Status: Completed
  • An open label study to compare the effects of age and body fat on the performance of two heat wrap devices in healthy subjects, Role: Investigator, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, (09/2010 - 09/2011) Status: Completed
  • A pilot study on a moist heat wrap: on subjects laying down and during movement of normal daily activities, Role: Investigator, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Inc., (03/2010 - 02/2011) Status: Completed

Internal

  • The influence of repeated heat exposure on skin blood flow, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (07/2010 - 07/2011) Status: Completed
  • Correlation between actual skin temperatures with a thermal camera, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (05/2009 - 05/2010) Status: Completed
  • Strain gauge assessment and correlation with compound muscle action potential and surface electromyogram parameters before and after a single intramuscular injection of botulinum toxin type A into extensor digitorum brevis muscle, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Neurology, (06/2016 - 06/2017) Status: Completed
  • Interaction between vibration and skin temperature and altering skinblood flow in younger people, older people, and people with diabetes, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (10/2008 - 10/2009) Status: Completed
  • Interactions between skin temperature, skin moisture and skin blood flow, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (10/2008 - 10/2009) Status: Completed
  • Measuring the strength in the extensor digitorum brevis muscle, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (09/2008 - 09/2009) Status: Completed
  • The effects of a composite psychoneuroimmunology-based (PNI) lifestyle intervention in modifying the progression of moderate unipolar depression in clinically depressed adults, Role: PI, LLU School of Allied Health Professionals, (09/2009 - 09/2010) Status: Completed
  • A spiritually-based intervention for patients with life-threatening illness or chronic pain, Role: Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (09/2007 - 09/2008) Status: Completed
  • Acute effect of a single high-fat meal on inflammatory markers and endothelial function, Role: Investigator, LLU School of Public Health, (08/2010 - 08/2011) Status: Completed
  • Physical fitness and stress in law enforcement officers, Role: PI, LLU School of Public Health, (12/2006 - 12/2007) Status: Completed
  • The Effect of Vitamin D Supplementation on Total Cholesterol: HDL Ratio in General Adult Population, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (09/2022) Status: Completed
  • Integrating the HEART into the Patient-Provider Interaction: Exploring A Novel Theoretical Framework's Utility and Underlying Mechanisms, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (08/2022) Status: Approved
  • The Effects of High-Intensity Exercise on Biological Age, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (11/2021) Status: Completed
  • Differentiation in brain EEG frequency modulation: Mirthful Laughter versus Fake Laughter, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Allied Health Studies, (11/2021) Status: Approved
  • Neuroendocrine changes after cervical spinal manipulation and mobilization in subjects with non- specific mechanical neck pain, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (06/2021) Status: Approved
  • The association of acute stress and lower quarter EMG and anticipatory postural adjustments during single leg balance tasks, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (05/2021) Status: Approved
  • Neuropathic Therapy Center Research Database of Clinical Patient Data, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Allied Health Studies, (01/2021) Status: Approved
  • A comparison of the rise of serum lipids, glucose, and hs-CRP levels after consumption of a beef burger versus a vegetarian burger, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Allied Health Studies, (07/2019) Status: Completed
  • The effect of intraneural facilitation therapy on diabetic patients with peripheral neuropathy, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (07/2019) Status: Completed
  • The effect of intermittent fasting on body fat and quality of life, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Allied Health Studies, (02/2024 - 02/2025) Status: Approved
  • Functional assessment of ashwagandha root extract during weight-loss, Role: Investigator, LLU Center for Health Research, (06/2020 - 06/2021) Status: Completed
  • Nuts and brain: Effects of eating nuts on changing electroencephalographic brainwaves, Role: PI, LLU School of Allied Health Professionals, (09/2017 - 09/2018) Status: Completed
  • Effects of preprandial consumption of cacao nibs vs. pecans on appetite, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Allied Health Studies, (01/2017 - 01/2018) Status: Completed
  • The acute effect of beetroot powder and arginine supplementation on blood pressure in normotensive adults, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Allied Health Studies, (09/2016 - 09/2017) Status: Completed
  • The effect of the addition of four different protein isolates to a fruit-based smoothie on postprandial blood glucose in a healthy population, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (07/2016 - 07/2017) Status: Completed
  • The effect of humor/laughter and distress on C reactive protein: a pilot study, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Allied Health Studies, (04/2016 - 04/2017) Status: Completed
  • Vitamin C and its effect on buffering cortisol and c-reactive protein spike post-exercise in recreational high-intensity training athletes, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (12/2014 - 12/2015) Status: Completed
  • A comparison of calorie-focused versus food-focused diet to achieve fat loss and emotional well-being among overweight and obese adults, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Nutrition, (08/2014 - 08/2015) Status: Completed
  • Isometric simulation of head bearing lifting and it's effects on the pelvic floor during the menstrual cycle, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (01/2014 - 01/2015) Status: Completed
  • Heat and cold and tendon flexibility and muscle elasticity in men and women, a pilot study, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (03/2013 - 03/2014) Status: Completed
  • Effect of menstrual cycle on ligament and tendon laxness in women, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (01/2013 - 01/2014) Status: Completed
  • The effect of vitamin D on endothelial function, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (07/2013 - 07/2014) Status: Completed
  • The effect of heat on skin blood flow; interaction of age and BMI, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (04/2012 - 04/2013) Status: Completed
  • Does Therapeutic Humor, as a Rehabilitative Modality, Enhance the Learning, Recall, and Recognition of Short Term Memory in Young, Elderly, and Age Matched Elderly Type 2 Diabetes, Role: PI, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (10/2014 - 10/2015) Status: Completed
  • Aphasia therapy and stress, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Speech Pathology, (07/2012 - 07/2013) Status: Completed
  • Cortical response and motor change with balance tasks, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (05/2012 - 05/2013) Status: Completed
  • The interaction of humidity and skin temperature on skin blood flow - the TRPV4 story, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (01/2011 - 01/2012) Status: Completed
  • The influence of heat and vascular occlusion on skin blood flow, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (12/2011 - 12/2012) Status: Completed
  • Endothelial function in Caucasians vs. Indians, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (12/2011 - 12/2012) Status: Completed
  • Muscle dynamics as the result of whole body vibration and plyometrics, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (01/2014 - 01/2015) Status: Completed
  • The effects of orally ingesting branched chain amino acids on delayed onset muscle soreness in diabetic patients, Role: Investigator, LLU Dept. of Physical Therapy, (09/2010 - 09/2011) Status: Completed
  • General Research - SAHP Professional, Role: PD/PI, LLU School of Public Health, (12/1993 - 12/2016) Status: Closed
  • Sabbath Day-of-Rest: Relief from Stress, Role: Principal Investigator, LLU Center for Health Research, (05/2007 - 12/2011) Status: Closed

Non-Profit Organization

  • Health profiles of survivors of domestic violence: piloting the complete health improvement program, Role: Investigator, California Foundation for Occupational Therapy, (03/2016 - 03/2017) Status: Completed
  • Psychoneuroimmunology & Humor, Role: Principal Investigator, Joan Kroc Foundation, (06/2005 - 06/2008) Status: Closed

Other Research

  • Loma Linda University News- "Laughter : A fool-Proof prescription"  by Janelle Ringer  (10/2019 - Present)
  • Real Simple Online- interview for article "6 Unexpected Ways to Calm your Nerves Before a  Big Job Interview"  (10/2019 - Present)