Exercise Physiology Lab

The primary aim of the exercise physiology lab is to understand the cellular response to exercise. While we all know that exercise is good for us, we really don't understand how this process works. Dr. Trevor Gillum's primary areas of research include thermoregulation, exercise and immune function and metabolism. His current research projects include how exercise training alters baseline protein expression, the impact of acute moderate exercise on immune function and how these processes may be different between men and women.

Lab equipment includes:

• Environmental Chamber - With capabilities to regulate heat, cold, humidity, and hypoxia, the chamber provides an opportunity to study exercise at environmental extremes.
• Wet Lab - Instruments to study cell analytes found in urine, blood, saliva or muscle include fume hood, flow cytometer, micro-plate reader, osmometer, centrifuge, and -80 C freezer.
• Oversized Treadmill - A belt surface of 4'x7' with speeds up to 30 mph, the treadmill allows testing of unique populations including cyclist, cross country skiers, wheel chair athletes, along with runners.
• Cardiac Function - The PhysioFlow measures the hemodynamic response to exercise (heart rate, blood pressure, stroke volume, cardiac output) along with arterial stiffness. Resting and exercising EKG's can also be measured.
• Metabolism - The lab is outfitted with two metabolic carts capable of resting and exercising metabolic measures.
• Muscle Function - 8 channel EMG is used to understand muscle function and adaptations, along with force plates, motion capture capabilities, and resistance training machines.

Undergraduate and Graduate Student Research

There are numerous student-driven studies performed in the exercise physiology lab. The majority of these studies focus on health-related indices with regards to skeletal muscle function. The primary aim of these projects is to present the students' findings at the annual southwest regional meeting of ACSM. The best way for undergraduate and graduate students to be involved in research is to enroll in KIN 473 or to contact Dr. Gillum (tgillum@calbaptist.edu).

Student-Led Research Projects and Presentations

Publications

Song DS, Boyer W, Gillum T, Sullivan S, Yoon I, Bai J, Kim SJ, Kim JK. Effect of acute grape seed extract supplementation on heart rate recovery in young individuals..  J Cardiovasc Dev Dis. 2025, 12(10), 387.

Apilado A, Boyer W, Gillum T, Sullivan S, Harveson A, Lira A, Kim JK. Effects of acute grape seed extract supplementation on muscle metaboreflex in healthy young individuals.  Sport Sciences for Health. 2025 August.

Lira A, Boyer W, Gillum T, Sullivan S, Kim JK.  Effect of 7‐day dietary supplementation with grape seed extract on cardiac autonomic and hemodynamic responses in elevated and stage 1 hypertension.  Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2025 May 8;45(3)

Seo D, Song D, Boyer W, Gillum T, Sullivan S, Liwanag N, Yoon I, Kim JK. Effect of aerobic exercise with blood flow restriction on postexercise hypotension in young adults: The role of histamine receptors. J. Cardiovasc. Dev. Dis. 2024, 11(10), 326;
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Magana M, Gorini F, Kuennen M, Lutz C, Almond D, Lira A, Apilado A, Kim J, Boyer W, Gillum T.  Caffeine has no effect on submaximal running in hypoxia in low caffeine consuming males and females. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 2024 Sep;64(9):863-870

Dorsett G, Gorini F, Kuennen M, Waugh K, Barnard J, Bennett J, Garcia G, Gillum T. Repeated short cold-water immersions are sufficient to habituate to the cold, but do not lead to adaptations during exercise in normobaric hypoxia. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism. 2024 May 1;49(5):659-666.

Gorini F, Greenfield A, Kuennen M, Gillum T.  Exercise induced plasma volume expansion lowers cardiovascular demand during 15-km cycling time-trial in acute normobaric hypoxia. PLoS. 2024 Feb 2;19(2):e0297553.

Shariffi B, Dillon K, Gillum T, Boyer W, Sullivan S, Lee E, Kim JK.  Effect of Combined Grape Seed Extract and L-Citrulline Supplementation on Hemodynamic Responses to Exercise in Young Males. Journal of Dietary Supplements, 1-12, 2022.
View Publication

Dillon K, Shariffi B, Gillum T, Boyer W, Sullivan S, Kim JK. Effects of Chronic Dietary Grape Seed Extract Supplementation on Aortic Stiffness and Hemodynamic Responses in Obese/Overweight Males during Submaximal Exercise. European Journal of Sport Science. 22:1057-64, 2022.
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Dillon K, Shariffi B, Thompson B, Steele R, and Kim JK. Effects of acute grape seed extract supplementation on hemodynamics in normal body weight and obese Males. J Nurt Sci Vitaminol. J. Nutr. Sci. Vitaminol. 66:427-431, 2020

Greenfield A, Gorini F, Boyer W, Apakarian M, Kuennen M, Gillum T. Short-Term Hot Water Immersion Results in Substantial Thermal Strain and Heat Acclimation Onset; Comparison with Heat-Exercise Exposures. Journal of Thermal Biology 2021 April; 97:102898. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2021.102898.

McKenna Z, Berkemeier Q, Gorini F, Kuennen M, Naylor A, Kleint A, & Gillum T. Effects of exercise in hot and humid conditions and bovine colostrum on salivary immune markers. Journal of Thermal Biology, 102717.
View Publication

Berkemeier Q, Alumbaugh B,  Gillum T, Coburn J, Kim J, Reeder M, Fechtner C, Smith G.  Physiological and Biomechanical Differences Between Seated and Standing Uphill Cycling.   International Journal of Exercise Science 2020; 13(2): 996-11.

Naylor A, Shariffi B, Gillum T, Boyer W, Sullivan S, Kim JK. Effects of Combined Histamine H1 and H2 Receptor Blockade on Hemodynamic Responses to Dynamic Exercise in Males with High-Normal Blood Pressure. doi 10.1139/apnm-2019-0645. Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism 2020; 45(7): 769-76.

Dillon K, Shariffi B, Thompson B, Steele R, and Kim JK. Effects of acute grape seed extract supplementation on hemodynamics in normal body weight and obese Males. J Nurt Sci Vitaminol. 66:427-431, 2020.

Rhouni N, Dabbs N, Gillum T, Coburn J. Acute Effect of Mini-Trampoline Jumping on Vertical Jump and Balance Performance. doi.org/10.7575/aiac.ijkss.v.7n.2p.1. International Journal of Kinesiology & Sports Science. 

Bodell N, Gillum T. 30 minutes of acute moderate-intensity exercise prior to a high fat meal does not attenuate postprandial triglycerides in postmenopausal women. Int. J. Phys. Ed. Fit. Sports, 72-78| 72.

McKenna Z, Berkemeier Q, Naylor A, Kleint A, Gorini F, Ng J, Kim J, Sullivan S, Gillum T. Bovine colostrum supplementation does not affect plasma I-FABP concentrations following exercise in a hot and humid environment. European Journal of Applied Physiology 2017; 117(12): 2561-7.

Tobar C, Martinez E, Rhouni N, Kim SJ.  The Effects of Visual Feedback Distortion with Unilateral Leg Loading on Gait Symmetry.   2018 Feb;46(2):324-333. doi: 10.1007/s10439-017-1954-x.  Ann Biomed Eng.

McKenna Z, Gillum TL. Effects of Exercise Induced Dehydration and Glycerol Rehydration on Anaerobic Power in Male Collegiate Wrestlers. 2017 Nov;31(11):2965-2968. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001871.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

Bodell N, Gillum TL. 90 Minutes of Moderate-Intensity Exercise does not attenuate Postprandial Triglycerides in Older Adults.  International Journal of Exercise Science. 9(5): 677-84. 2016.

Nguyen B, Gillum TL. Manipulation of Step Height and its Effect on Lactate Metabolism during a One-Minute Anaerobic Step Test. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 29(6): 1578-83. 2015.

Williams N, Coburn J, Gillum TL. Static stretching vs. dynamic warm-ups: a comparison of their effects on torque and electromyography output of the quadriceps and hamstring muscles. Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness. 55(11):1310-7. 2015.

Quesada T, Gillum TL. Effect of acute creatine supplementation and subsequent caffeine ingestion on ventilatory anaerobic threshold. Journal of Exercise Physiology Online. 16(4):112-20. 2013.

Presentations

Krager S, Boyer W. The association between muscular strength and C-reactive protein among post-menopausal women: Effect modification by hormone replacement therapy. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Burbank, CA. 2025. Finalist for Graduate Student Research Award.

Dorsett, Geoffrey, Gillum T. Repeated, Short Cold-Water Immersions are Sufficient to Habituate to the Cold, but Do Not Lead to Adaptations During Exercise in Normobaric Hypoxia. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA. 2023. Undergraduate Student Research Award Winner.

Magana M, Lutz C, Almond D, *Lira A, Apilado A, Kim JK, Boyer W, Gillum T. Caffeine Has No Effect on Submaximal Running in Hypoxia in Low Caffeine Consuming Males and Females. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Denver, CO. 2023

Greenfield A., Gorini F., Gillum T. The impact of short term hot water immersion on heat acclimation and thermotolerance. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. 2020.

Gorini F., Gillum T. High intensity intervals expands plasma and improves cycling performance in acute hypoxia.  American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA. 2020.

Gorini F, Gillum T. High intensity intervals expands plasma and improves cycling performance in acute hypoxia. SWACSM. Costa Mesa, CA. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine 38th Annual Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA, October 2019. Finalist for Graduate Student Research Award.

Robinson M, Boyer W, Coburn J, Venezuela K, Gillum T. Comparison between barbell and dumbbell complex contrast training on repeated sprint ability, jump performance and strength in NCAA Division I volleyball and soccer players. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine 38th Annual Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA, October 2019.

Hunt, R., Greenfield, A., Amin, Z., Lynch J., Shariffi B., and JK., Kim. Dietary Supplementation with Grape Seed Extract Improves Time-Trial Exercise Performance in College-Aged Males. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine 38th Annual Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA, October 2019.

Shariffi B., Cunningham, T., Villarreal, J., Vasoya, R., Gandhi, J. and JK, Kim. Interaction between Histamine Receptors and the Muscle Metaboreflex in Normotensive Healthy Males. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine 38th Annual Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA, October 2019.

Dillon, K., Shariffi, B., Thompson, B., Steele, R., and JK, Kim. Effects of Acute Grape Seed Extract Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness in Obese Males. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine 38th Annual Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA, October 2019.

Lebowitz, S., Coburn, J., Boyer, W.R., Gillum, T. Acute Effects of Different Loading Parameters in a Rear Foot Elevated Split Squat on Horizontal and Vertical Jumps. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine 38th Annual Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA, October 2019.

Smith, V., Gillum, T., Sullivan, S. Kim, J.K., Boyer, W.R. The Relationship between Heart Rate Onset and Markers for Cardiovascular Disease in Career Firefighters. Southwest American College of Sports Medicine 38th Annual Meeting, Costa Mesa, CA, October 2019.

Gorini F, Gillum T.  Downhill Running: An Effective Countermeasure to Limitations of Exercise in Acute Hypoxia? Southwest ACSM. Costa Mesa, CA. Finalist for student research award.

Mckenna Z, Gutierrez C, Gillum T. Predictors of Exercise Induced Body Mass Loss in Males and Females.  Southwest ACSM. Costa Mesa, CA.

Berkemeier Q, Coburn J, Kim JK, Gillum T. Breathing and Pedaling Entrainment in Uphill Cycling. Southwest ACSM. Costa Mesa, CA.

Hernandez C, Rhouni N. Favela D, Ramirez J, Corella E, Reid MJ, Gillum T, Coburn J, Dabbs NC. The Acute Effects of Miniature Trampoline Usage on Muscle Activation During Vertical Jumping. NSCA Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, 

Sherry Aziz, Trevor Gillum.  Effect of a 55day vegan or vegetarian diet on VO2max and weight on Egyptian individuals. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA.

Courtney Helmer, Trevor Gillum. The effect of Time-of-Day on the Rate of Blood Lactate Removal in Response to Active Recovery Post 30-s Wingate. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA.

Kimberly Spaulding, Trevor Gillum. The Immediate Effects of Stabilization Exercises on Dynamic Balance in Men and Women. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA.

Nathaniel Bodell, Trevor Gillum. 90 Minutes of Moderate Exercise does not Attenuate Postprandial Triglycerides in Older Adults. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA.

Micaela Castillo, Trevor Gillum. The Effects of an Acute Bout of Static Stretching on 800 Meter Run Time. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Costa Mesa, CA.

Sherwin Facun, Trevor Gillum. Metabolic comparison between kettlebell swings and treadmill running.  Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Newport Beach, CA.

Aaron Hartsock, Trevor Gillum. The acute effect of a unilateral shoulder press of the throwing shoulder on pitching velocity.  Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Newport Beach, CA.

Kara Shook, Trevor Gillum. The effect of acute quercetin supplementation through FRS on running economy: A randomized double blind assessment of recreationally active college age males.  Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Newport Beach, CA.

Stephanie Adrian, Trevor Gillum.  The EMG activity of figure skating off-ice single and double loop jumps. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Newport Beach, CA.

Nicole Williams, Trevor Gillum.  The effect of different warm-up techniques on EMG output and torque of quadriceps muscles.  Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Newport Beach, CA.

Devin Bennett, Trevor Gillum.  The effect of morning verses afternoon conditioning in stress levels and URTI symptoms in college softball players. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Newport Beach, CA.

Jacob Perez, Endeah Chandler, Tyler Krieger, Josh Marsile, Trevor Gillum. An Acute Leg Press Exercise Session Can Decreases Systolic Blood Pressure. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Reno, NV.

Laura Shipman, Ashley Bennet, Hannah Braun, Trevor Gillum. The Effects of Power Balance Bands on Strength, Balance, and Flexibility. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Reno, NV.

Patrick Solano, Arron Bethel, Trevor Gillum. Effects of Static Stretching on Maximal Leg Strength. Southwest ACSM Chapter Meeting. Reno, NV. 

Faculty Peer Reviewed Publications:

Kuennen M, Jansen L, Gillum TL, GranadosJ, CastilloW, ChristmasK, NabiyarA. Dietary nitratereduces the oxygen cost of a loaded battle march performed in desert conditions but paradoxically elevates body temperatures.  In Press.  European Journal of Applied Physiology.

Granados J, Gillum TL, Castillo W, Christmas K, Kuennen M. Functional respiratory muscle training during endurance exercise causes modest hypoxemia but overall is well tolerated. In Press.  Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

Gillum TL, Kuennen M, Castillo, M, Williams N, Jordan-Patterson A. Exercise, but not sleep loss, increases salivary antimicrobial protein expression. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 29(5): 1359–66.  2015.

Granados J, Gillum TL, Christmas K, Kuennen M. Prohormone supplement 3b-hydroxy-5a-androst-1-en-17-one enhances resistance training gains but impairs user health.  Journal of Applied Physiology.  Mar;116(5):560–569. 2014.

Gillum TL, Kuennen M, Riley L, Holguin T.  Sex and menstrual phase effects of salivary antimicrobial protein expression in response to acute treadmill running. Exercise Immunology Reviews. 20:23–38. 2014.

Gillum TL, Kuennen M, Gourley C, Schneider S, Dokladny K, Moseley P.  Salivary antimicrobial protein response to prolonged running.  Biology of Sport. 30(1):3–8. 2013.

Gillum TL, Kuennen M, Gourley C, Dokladny K, Schneider S, Moseley P.  Sex differences in heat shock protein 72 expression after acute exercise in the heat. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism.  11(4). 2013.

Gillum TL, Kuennen M, Schneider S, Moseley P. A review of sex differences in immune function after aerobic exercise. Exercise Immunology Reviews. 17: 106–23. 2011.

Kuennen M, Gillum TL, Dokladny K, Bedrick E, Schneider S, Moseley P. Thermotolerance and heat acclimation may share a common mechanism in humans. American Journal of Physiology – Regulatory, Integrative, and Comparative Physiology. In press, 2011.

Kuennen M, Gillum TL, Amorim F, Sub Kwon Y, Schneider S. The effect of palm cooling on hyperthermic subjects. European Journal of Applied Physiology. 108(6): 1217–23. 2010.

Gillum TL, Kravitz L. Assessing the lactate threshold. Idea Fitness Journal. 5(2): 21–23. 2008.

Gillum TL, Dumke CL, Ruby BC. Muscle glycogenolysis and resynthesis in response to a half-ironman triathlon. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance. 1: 404–9. 2006.

Gillum TL, Kuennen M, Gourley C, Dokladny K, Schneider S, Moseley P. Sex differences in heat shock protein 72 expression after acute exercise in the heat. International Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. In Press.

Gillum TL, Kuennen M, Gourley C, Schneider S, Dokladny K, Moseley P. Salivary antimicrobial protein response to prolonged running. Biology of Sport. 30(1):3–8. 2013.

Peer Reviewed Presentations:

Gillum TL, Castillo M, McKenna Z, Tobi-Patterson J, Bohnert C. Exercise increases salivary granulocytes and lymphocytes, but not monocytes. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. San Diego, CA.

Gillum TL, Castillo M, Williams N, Jordan-Patterson A. Exercise, but not sleep deprivation, increases salivary alpha-defensins and cathelicidin. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL.

Wigginton M, Barth M, Gillum TL, Sands C. Assessment of physical activity and health indicators in American-Indian high school students. American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.

Granados J, Gillum TL, Kuennen M. Advantages and Disadvantages to prohormone supplementation in resistance trained males. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN.

Gillum TL, Williams N, Stone K, McLeod S. Sleep, stress, and sickness in collegiate cross country runners while in season. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN.

Gillum T, Holguin T, Riley L. Men and women differ in antimicrobial protein expression. California Baptist University. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. San Francisco, CA.

Gillum T, Gourley C, Kuennen M, Schneider S. Antimicrobial protein response to prolonged running. California Baptist University. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Denver, CO.

Gillum T, Kuennen M, Gourley C, Alumbaugh B, Dokladny K, Schneider S, Moseley P. Gender differences in heat shock protein 72 expression and inflammation in response to acute exercise in the heat. University of New Mexico. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Baltimore, MD.

Kuennen M, Gillum T, Christmas K, Daklodney K, Schneider S, Moseley P. Thermotolerance and heat acclimation share a common mechanism in humans. Experimental Biology. Anaheim, CA.

Gillum T, Kuennen M, Christmas K, Dokladny K, Schneider S, Moseley P. Time course of intracellular heat shock protein 72 expression during and after acute cycle ergometry. University of New Mexico. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA

Kuennen M, Gillum T, Christmas K, Dokladny K, Schneider S, Moseley P. Assessment of heat shock protein 72 day-to-day reliability. University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA

Mermier C, Kuennen M, Gillum T, Christmas K, Dokladny K, Schneider S, Moseley P. The effect of mild dehydration on heat shock protein 72 expression during an acute cycling bout. University of New Mexico. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Seattle, WA

Kuennen M, Gillum T, Amorim F, Sub Kwon Y, Schneider S. The effect of palm cooling on hyperthermic subjects. University of New Mexico. 2008 American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN

Gillum TL, Dumke CL, Ruby BC. Muscle glycogenolysis and resynthesis in response to a half-ironman triathlon. University of Montana. 2006 Northwest American College of Sports Medicine. Corvallis, OR

Gillum TL, Williams N, Stone K, McLeod S. Sleep, stress, and sickness in collegiate cross country runners while in season. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN.

Granados J, Gillum TL, Kuennen M. Advantages and Disadvantages to prohormone supplementation in resistance trained males. American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting. Indianapolis, IN.

Wigginton M, Barth M, Gillum TL, Sands C. Assessment of physical activity and health indicators in American-Indian high school students. American Public Health Association, Boston, MA.