Auburn University’s NVP Lab Seeking Participants for Research Study

BY KENDYL HOLLINGSWORTH KENDYLH@ OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM

AUBURN —

If you are an adult who experiences high blood pressure, or simply has the desire to help with medical research, researchers at Auburn University could use your help.

Dr. Austin Robinson, an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology, is working with five students in the Neurovascular Physiology Lab (NVPL) on Auburn’s campus to study vascular function.

Through studies that involve high-sodium diets, lifestyle choices and dietary supplements like MitoQ, the research team aims to determine how these factors affect blood pressure and blood vessel function. But beyond that, Robinson said the lab focuses a lot on racial disparities when it comes to these functions.

“There’s a lot of literature in the scientific record showing that Black adults have greater proportion of what’s called ‘salt sensitivity,’” Robinson said, meaning their blood pressure may change a lot in response to how much salt they consume. “… What we’re trying to do is kind of establish the ‘why,’ and that’s one of the major things that we do in the lab.”

Robinson, who also serves as director of the NVPL, said the lab began collecting data for some of these studies as early as October 2020. But with the COVID-19 pandemic, things were put on hold.

Now, the team is proceeding in full force, thanks in large part to a $300,000 grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, a branch of the

GYMNASTICS >>

FROM B3 huge increase in popularity, and Stevens has been part of the group that has laid the foundation.

“It’s been really special to be a part of,” Stevens said. “Just seeing, feeling and hearing the growth from my freshman year to my senior year — I feel like one of the biggest things is just our mindset is different.”

Gymnastics is largely an individual sport until athletes reach the collegiate level. That transition can be difficult, but Stevens said she appreciates the team aspect.

“It’s different for sure,” Stevens said. “It’s good because you have all the extra support, your teammates are there for you, they have your back. It also adds more pressure because you’re not only doing it for yourself, you’re doing it for your team — and you want to be successful for your whole team.”

Stevens had a big year in 2022, setting a career-high on every event. The sky is the limit for her in 2023.

“Last season, I gained a lot of confidence just

National Institutes of Health (NIH). This type of grant is given to universities that don’t typically receive much NIH funding. According to Robinson, NIH funds about 70% of the biomedical research conducted in the U.S.

“This particular grant is to kind of help build the research infrastructure here, and then it also emphasizes participation of undergraduate researchers, and that’s something that we kind of pride ourselves on in the lab,” Robinson said. “Every semester, we have at least five or six undergraduate students who are helping us out in different capacities, whether it’s entering data or processing blood and urine samples and analyzing some of the data — stuff like that.”

The NVPL is recruiting participants for three paid studies:

• The Effects of a High Salt Meal on Blood Flow Regulation – for adults 19 to 75 years old with blood pressure no higher than 150/90 and a body mass index (BMI) no greater than 35 kg/m², with no metabolic, liver, pulmonary and cardiovascular disease, and who do not smoke or use tobacco or blood thinners. Includes a screening visit and two experimental visits. Pay is in my competing and my gymnastics,” Stevens said. “I think how I build on that this year is with the mental side, like the confidence. My gymnastics is the same, if not better this year — maybe being in those bigger spots in the lineups and possibly getting those bigger scores and setting up Derrian (Gobourne) and Suni (Lee) for 10’s.”

The anchor in gymnastics is the last athlete to compete in an event. It is an important role because it can make or break the whole rotation. Stevens has moved into the anchor position on vault this season.

“I think that’s something really special, and I don’t take it lightly,” she said. “Knowing all the challenges I’ve had and being in the place where I am now, I see it as an opportunity, and I just want to be the best I can for my team.”

Stevens has responded well to seeing her role drastically increase this season.

“That’s just the most incredible feeling,” Stevens said. “That’s honestly why I do it. That’s one of the things that keeps me going is just that daily grind, but

$225.

• Antioxidant

Supplementation and Blood

Vessel Health – for adults 19 to 75 years old with blood pressure no higher than 150/90 and a body mass index (BMI) no greater than 40 kg/m², with no metabolic, liver, pulmonary and cardiovascular disease, and who do not use blood thinners. Includes a screening visit and two experimental visits. Pay is $300.

• MitoQ Antioxidant Supplement and Blood Vessel Health – for adults 45 to 75 years old with blood pressure no higher than 150/90 and a body mass index (BMI) no greater than 35 kg/m², with no metabolic, liver, pulmonary and cardiovascular disease, and who do not use blood thinners. Includes a screening visit and four experimental visits, totaling about 12 hours within an 18-week period.

Pay is $600.

MitoQ is an antioxidant taken orally. Its purpose is to target free radical damage, or dysfunction caused by unstable atoms, in the mitochondria of cells. Free radical damage can help cause a variety of chronic health problems, according to “Free radicals, antioxidants and functional foods: Impact on human health,” published then seeing that work pay off in such a big manner. I love my spot — I really do.”

One accolade that all gymnasts strive for is to have a move named after them. That is something that Stevens has been able to check off her bucket list.

“For the longest time, I did a front handspring to my knee,” Stevens said. “Basically what I do now, but with my hands on the beam. I don’t remember whose first idea it was, but we just thought to try it without my hands, and it worked. The next summer, one of my teammates did a front toss, and then she was working a swing through front toss. I wanted to try a swing through into my front aerial to my knee. That whole year leading up to every meet, they have to turn in paperwork because it’s a new skill. If you qualify for competition at level 10 Nationals and successfully complete it, then it gets named after you.” in the NIH’s National Library of Medicine.

Auburn is a place that is near and dear to the hearts of many. Most of the athletes that compete for Auburn will say the same thing, and Stevens is no different.

Both antioxidant studies involve taking the antioxidant supplement and a placebo, but it’s random which one the participant will receive first.

“We’re giving this supplement to both white and Black adults, but the idea that we kind of have is that it’s going to have more of a benefit in Black adults because they might have more free radical damage and more hypertension and blood vessel dysfunction to begin with,” Robinson explained.

This research holds some personal meaning for Robinson, whose own experience with high blood pressure in his youth sparked his interest in studying exercise science and cardiovascular health.

“I want to say I was 13 or 14, went to the doctor — and it was just a routine physical for, like, football — and my blood pressure was really high,” he recalled.

He was prescribed hypertension medication but was later able to normalize his blood pressure through lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise. But as an African American male growing up in a blue-collar area, Robinson said he could

“I just love the family aspect here — I really do,” Stevens said. “I know that’s cliché, and everyone says that, but it turns a big university into a small see how environment could also influence someone’s health.

“We don’t think that Black people are just born at higher risk for disease, like innately, so it’s definitely a lot to do with the environment and social context,” he said. “And there’s published literature on that, too. Like, for example, in Jamaica or Nigeria — there’s other countries that have a high proportion of people with West African ancestry, and they don’t necessarily have the same rates of high blood pressure and stuff like that. So, it definitely shows the importance of the environment and how that influences health disparities.”

Zach Hutchison, a lab technician and PhD student, said he believes the NVPL’s work is important, and he hopes others in the community will recognize the value of their participation in these studies.

“I think once … they can kind of see that we’re really trying to help — we’re trying to drive science forward — that hopefully we develop that relationship with the community,” he said.

Robinson said the NVPL’s work is also unique in that it extends beyond the lab.

“In our lab, we’re basically broadly interested in these college, and people know your name. They genuinely care about you, and the support here is unwavering; the fans are like none I’ve ever seen.” health disparities, but then, I think, the angle that we’re looking at it from that makes our work unique is that we work with other investigators here at Auburn to try to capture some of the social determinants of health that are contributing to the health disparities,” he said.

That includes working with people who have backgrounds in psychology, as well as human development and family studies, to assess environmental factors with questionnaires. Questions might ask where the participant grew up, if they have depression or anxiety, if they feel that they experience racial discrimination, or if they’ve had adverse childhood experiences.

Robinson said the goal with this research is to inform medical practices, including drug development, but also to inform policy.

“We might find that something like neighborhood poverty is one of the major mediators of a health disparity,” he said. “I think that could inform policy where we start trying to target kids at a younger age, like with their school programs or different interventions, to try to get them less exposure to some of the negative aspects of living in a poor neighborhood, and that could maybe kind of move the needle a little bit in terms of the health disparities.”

Anyone interested in participating in any of these studies should email their name and contact information to the lab at nvpl019@ auburn.edu. For more information on the NVPL and its work, visit www.education. auburn.edu/initiatives/ neurovascular-physiology-laboratory-austin-robinson-ph-d/.

Stevens has left her mark on the Auburn gymnastics program. Time will tell how she continues her career and adds to her legacy on The Plains.

As an early childhood teacher, I love the month of February. Readers, if you want to be loved, and to have heartfelt joy and happiness, spend time with young children. Right now, with it being mid-winter — overcast with rain and cold weather — the month of February brightens up this season with love.

Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, which comes next Tuesday, is one of my favorite days to celebrate in the classroom with beautiful lace doilies, heart stickers, drawings and cut-out hearts. Make cards, as well as decorate heartshaped bags and boxes so children can play Valentine post office in the classroom.

As I reflect back over the many years of teaching, the favorite lesson my young students seem to enjoy is talking about love

Love Returned To Heal a Heart come and check on me each evening. They would check out my backyard with flashlights, walk around my home and make rounds each evening. gently putting me back on my feet as we sold my home. and how we can help others to live out love.

Young children share how their actions have shown love in helping others. Children learn so much when they are young. These are such valuable teaching years. We early childhood teachers see this on a daily basis. We can mold the heart of a young child by our words and actions.

Right after my husband suddenly passed away in 2017, as a teacher, I was the recipient of love when some of my no-adult, first- and second-grade students reached out to me. This is not bragging at all, but it was such a humble blessing in my life during such a time of need.

After my son returned to Grand Rapids, Michigan, I was comforted by my students who are now policemen serving on the city police force. They would

One night, a coil in my stove oven caught on fire. Immediately, the fire department made their way to my home. Again, I was met by one of my students who was now an adult and able to put out the fire. I remembered the many community field trips we had taken to the police station and fire departments as first- and second-grade classes and the time the community helpers had invested in these young students in teaching them about safety.

Some of my firstand second-grade students who are now grown helped me with making emergency repairs and maintaining my yard with mowing and landscaping.

When I knew that God was guiding me to move back to Opelika, Alabama, my hometown, I knew I would need to sell my home. I did not even know how to begin the process. Again, God blessed me with another one of my first-grade students, Terra Reeves, and her mother Laura Reeves, who served as my real estate team. This mother-daughter team went the extra mile and spent hours praying and loving this first-grade teacher by

After returning to Opelika, I was so excited to be able to teach in the summer program at Trinity United Methodist Church, where I was met in the classroom by another student, Mrs. Kaponia Holloway, whom I had taught at Carver Primary School back in the 1980s. She is now grown up — a mother and grandmother, as well as a teacher for older preschoolers. She and I have shared classroom ideas in teaching young children.

As a teacher, I have seen how love notes from parents, grandparents and other family members encourage young children. I have seen how little boys and girls cling on to a simple yellow Post-it note from Mom or Dad all day long. It brings joy and security from home to school.

Be sure to let your children know that you unconditionally love them for “who they are” and how God made them with their personalities and gifts. As we all know, praise and compliments go a long way in encouraging young hearts. Thank them in a note for how they have helped you — by cleaning their rooms, helping to set the table for a meal, cleaning up after a meal, feeding and taking care of their pets or picking up paper off the floor — to express special feelings to your child that they are so quick to emotionally respond to. It expresses gratitude for what they do. We all want to feel appreciated.

Notes of encouragement to our children are so important. If a child is facing challenges for the week, such as tests or projects, let them know that you are praying and pulling for them to do well.

Also, social relationships with friends can be a challenge for young children. Our world is so busy with computers, cell phones and other technology. In the world of young child, spending TIME with them with no distractions spells LOVE. Raising young children is a challenge. We all make mistakes. A verbal “Will you forgive me?” is good, but a written “Will you forgive me?” note is one that a child will absolutely learn from.

As we embark on this month of February, “love month,” why not place surprise notes in unexpected places? As a teacher, I have loved to stick encouragement notes under desktops, chairs, student folders, etc. As a parent, you can slip notes in lunch boxes and backpacks, or put Post-it notes on bathroom mirrors, a child’s pillow, by their breakfast plate and even in their clothes or shoes.

Also, let me gently remind readers that Sunday is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday which we teach and celebrate in the early childhood classroom. Our lessons focus on what children learn from Honest Abe, and that is telling the truth. Again, teaching a young child to know and understand what “telling the truth” means involves sitting down and teaching young children the importance of being honest.

My heartfelt desire and hope with this column is for parents, grandparents, adults and teachers to take time to model love in front of young children. Those of us who teach young children are blessed with hugs and hearing the words “I love you” even after our young students are grown. I want to wish all my students, present and past, a “Happy Valentine’s Day!” Thank you for your expressions of love in actions, cards, email wishes and Facebook outreaches.

1 Corinthians 13:13: “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE!”

Classroom Observer Beth Pinyerd