Joaquin U. Gonzales, Ph.D.

Researcher:

Joaquin U. Gonzales, Ph.D.

Associate Professor 

KSM 119, Vascular Aging Laboratory

 

 

 Personal Statement

Dr. Gonzales has 20 years of experience conducting applied physiology studies in humans. He currently directs the Vascular Aging Laboratory where he has been an independent investigator since 2010. Dr. Gonzales has been funded by the National, Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (pre-doctoral award, 2006-2008), the National Institute on Aging (post-doctoral award, 2008-2010), and the American Heart Association (2015-2017 and 2019-2021). His current research examines i) the impact of age-related vascular dysfunction on physical function, and ii) how sleep alters vascular and cognitive function in middle-aged to older adults.

Laboratory Skills and Capabilities 

• Accelerometer-based assessment of ambulatory activity (peak cadence, total steps) or time spent in activity of different intensities (sedentary, light, moderate, vigorous)
• Assessment of microvascular and macrovascular vasodilatory capacity using strain-gauge plethysmography and Doppler ultrasound, respectively
• Cognitive function testing
• Evaluation of ambulatory (24-hr) blood pressure
• Gait speed analysis 
• Measurement of arterial blood flow and stiffness at rest and during exercise using Doppler ultrasound
• Pulse wave analysis 
• Sleep assessment

Laboratory Equipment

• Actigraph, GT3X+ and GT9x accelerometers plus ActiLife software
• ADInstruments, 8SP PowerLab acquisition system
• Artinis, PortaLite near-infrared spectroscopy system
• AtCor Medical, SphygmoCor PVx system
• Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM) cognitive testing system
• CNSystems, CNAP 500at beat-by-beat blood pressure system
• Dynavision, APDM Mobility Lab gait & balance system
• GE Healthcare, Vivid 7 Doppler ultrasound system
• Hokanson, E20 rapid cuff inflation system
• Hokanson, EC6 strain-gauge plethysmography system
• MIA, Vascular Tools brachial and carotid artery analyzers
• SunTech, Oscar2 w/SphygmoCor Inside ambulatory blood pressure device