PEAK LAB: Physical-Exercise-Activity- Kinesiology
Providing novel exercise testing techniques and state of the art services.
The PEAK Lab supports investigators conducting multidisciplinary and translational 
(T1-T4) research related to all forms of human movement (e.g., physical activity, exercise, and sedentary behavior) within the University of Rochester. Dr. Mustian and her staff provide consulting services for investigators in all stages of career and study development. Services include: concept development, implementation, assessment, staff training, and fidelity and quality assurance assistance. We support local, investigator-initiated studies and also very large, complex, nationwide, multi-center clinical trials (phase I-IV). The Lab supports government, foundation and industry-sponsored studies and has a proven track record of successfully assisting investigators in securing internal and external research funding (e.g., CTSI pilot funding, CRC pilot funding, CTSI KL2, NIH K-awards, R21s, R01s, and Program grants).
Wilmot Cancer Research Day
Wilmot Cancer Institute has partnered with 13WHAM (Channel 13)/FOX Rochester (Channel 7) for Wilmot Cancer Research Day on January 25. We’ll share stories about what’s happening in cancer research locally and explain how the community can assist research efforts that make progress against cancer possible.
Wilmot Cancer Research Day from URCC NCORP on Vimeo
URMC Researches how Chemo Affects the Brain
The University of Rochester Medical Center received a $3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to research how chemotherapy affects the brains of cancer patients. Researcher Michelle Janelsins tracks the results and compares the brain functions of women with and without cancer and found a stark contrast.
Soybean Oil or Fish Oil? This Study's Result Surprised Wilmot Cancer Researchers
Investigators discovered, unexpectedly, that soybean oil was better than fish oil for reducing cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors. It raises new questions about the value of fish oil and also the consumption of soy by women with breast cancer, which is controversial.
Fitness Trackers Keep Cancer Survivors on the Move
A new study shows that activity trackers such as pedometers and smartphone apps are linked to improved step counts and exercise engagement for cancer survivors. The devices have the appeal of being convenient, home-based, and unsupervised, and they may help with accuracy of exercise logs and in some cases can serve as a communications tool for healthcare teams.
NCORP Women in Science
The NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP) would not exist without the women in science who work so effectively to make it a success. Their achievements are celebrated February 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Student Engineers Help Kids With Disabilities Walk and Play
Devin Foggio, a student has been working with a biomedical engineering group to develop a project for kids with disabilities. Walking with disabilities such as down syndrome and cerebral palsy can be a long process and it might increase social isolation. Thus, they developed walkers that allow children to move around but also practice walking at the same time.
Learn more about the ReNEW program, a space dedicated for exercise at the Pluta Integrative Oncology & Wellness Center.
Congratulations to our Doctors for their participation in the 2018 SBM Conference that took place in New Orleans, LA.
Recently in the News
Mustian Selected as Fellow by Elite National Leadership Program
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I am incredibly honored and excited to be nominated for this fellowship and to be accepted as an ELAM Fellow along with some extraordinary leaders in academic medicine from across the country" -Dr. Karen M. Mustian
Cancer patients fight fatigue with cancer
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You can be just as explicit in the way you prescribe exercise to achieve very particular outcomes as you can in the way you prescribe chemotherapy." -Dr. Karen M. Mustian
Should Cancer Survivors Practice Yoga?
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A growing body of research suggests that yoga may be useful in treating certain toxicities associated with cancer and its treatment." -Dr. Karen M. Mustian
We provide physical function assessments for metabolism, body composition, cardiovascular function, pulmonary function, range of motion, strength, balance, and free-living activity. Examples include but are not limited to: graded exercise stress testing (including VO2max and anaerobic threshold), pulse oximetry, EKG, bioelectrical impedance, balance force plate testing, actigraphy and more. Operating in discreet clinical space located on the University of Rochester Medical Center Campus, the PEAK Lab, provides an optimal setting for medical investigators to conduct safe, controlled studies in children and adults. We perform assessments and deliver interventions in the inpatient and outpatient settings at the University of Rochester campus and at other medical or non-medical community locations.