Modernization, expansion, and development of the lifelong interdisciplinary movement, biomechanics, and respiration (limbr) center

The National Institutes of Health Office of the Director awarded $16 million to Boise State University on September 15, 2025, under the Construction Support program (CFDA 93.352) to modernize, consolidate, and develop the Lifelong Interdisciplinary Movement, Biomechanics, and Respiration (LIMBR) Center.

The award funds renovation of a decommissioned aquatic center into centralized research facilities for human movement and respiratory research. The project will consolidate institution-wide biomechanics and pulmonary function research currently housed in an off-campus retrofit office building that lacks proper infrastructure and prevents simultaneous multi-group studies. The refurbished center will serve researchers studying human movement across the lifespan—from infants through elderly populations and athletes—and will address a research gap by integrating respiration and musculoskeletal health disciplines, which currently lack comprehensive co-location in U.S. facilities. The center is intended to function as a national hub for multidisciplinary human movement research while advancing biomedical research capacity and collaboration in the Intermountain West region and nationally.

Place of performance is Boise, Idaho. The period of performance extends through May 31, 2030. The Construction Support program provides funding to renovate existing and build new research facilities to meet laboratory safety, biohazard containment, and animal care standards supporting NIH research priorities.

Abstract

Our infrastructure proposal titled "modernization, consolidation, and development of the lifelong interdisciplinary movement, biomechanics, and respiration (limbr) center," will develop centralized facilities to enable and enhance the conduct of high impact and innovative biomedical research at boise state university to improve U.S. Health. The long-term goal of our proposal, "modernization, consolidation, and development of the lifelong interdisciplinary movement, biomechanics, and respiration (limbr) center" is to develop a national hub for excellence in multidisciplinary human movement research across the lifespan. The proposed construction will improve and consolidate institution-wide human movement and respiratory research facilities to increase and advance biomedical research, collaboration, and long-term sustainability in both the intermountain west region and the greater U.S. The limbr center's unique intersection of respiration and musculoskeletal health addresses a critical GAP: posture and movement directly influence pulmonary function throughout the lifecycle, yet no existing facilities in the U.S. Comprehensively integrate these disciplines. Our current lab supports the biomechanics research efforts of humans throughout the lifecycle (infants to athletes to elderly). However, the limitations of our current shared lab space include an off-campus location, a retro-fit office building without proper infrastructure, and an inability for research groups to conduct simultaneous studies. These infrastructure-related limitations are prohibiting additional growth, collaboration, innovation, and sustainability of our human movement and respiratory research. These significant barriers will be overcome with our proposed infrastructure project to refurbish our centrally located and decommissioned aquatic center into a premier human movement laboratory. The new centrally located limbr center will be designed specifically for human movement and respiration research, and will feature two distinct motion capture lab spaces which can be used as a single large lab, or partitioned into separate labs to facilitate simultaneous data collections amongst multiple investigators. We will also have a separate respiratory lab, a clinical exam room, a mechanical lab, and space for a future medical imaging lab. This project will enhance institutional-wide research programs and benefit numerous research groups. Current studies of humans throughout the lifespan which will benefit from this infrastructure improvement include infant product safety, assessment of post- concussion injury, early detection of stress fractures, and fall-prevention for older adults. We have specific projects planned with investigators across campus from radiological sciences, respiratory care, materials science, engineering, kinesiology, and athletics, as well as regional and national clinical partners. With the support of our regional institutional development award (idea) network and programs, this proposal will elevate US to a premier sustainable site for human movement and respiration research across the lifespan, and will enable US to take part in nationwide multicenter studies to improve the health and wellness of the U.S.