Metabolic and cardiopulmonary analyzer system: advancing student career readiness through hands-on research and instruction

The National Institute of General Medical Sciences awarded Sam Houston State University $250,000 on August 1, 2026, under the Biomedical Research and Research Training program (CFDA 93.859) to acquire and deploy a metabolic and cardiopulmonary analyzer system for student instruction and research.

The system includes metabolic analysis, electrocardiogram, and plethysmography capabilities enabling assessment of resting cardiac parameters, cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary response to exercise, energy expenditure, and anaerobic power output through Wingate testing. The equipment supports hands-on training in exercise science, biomedical, and pre-allied health courses and clinical research collaborations across the university and with community partners, preparing students for careers in clinical exercise science and related biomedical fields.

Sam Houston State University, a public Hispanic-Serving Institution and Minority Institution based in Huntsville, Texas, serves as the recipient. The award period runs from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027, with performance located in Huntsville, TX.

Abstract

The metabolic analyzer system (MAS) with electrocardiogram (ECG) and plethysmography uses state-of-the-art technology to assess resting cardiac parameters (i.e., aortic calcification), cardiovascular (CV) and cardiopulmonary (CP) response to exercise, energy expenditure, and anaerobic power output (wingate testing), which are common assessments in clinical and biomedical research in the field of exercise science. This system is of utmost importance in achieving the institution's mission as a student-centered, community engaged institution offering quality higher education focused on career readiness, personal, professional development, and service contributions. The system is necessary to achieve the values of our department-to be student-centric, transformational and collaborative while strengthening our exercise science, biomedical, and pre-allied health courses by providing students with invaluable hands-on training using advanced technology. The system is critical for student and faculty recruitment and retention providing unique opportunities for clinical applications and research. The practical and applied training using advanced instrumentation better prepares students for careers in clinical exercise science and related biomedical fields by removing barriers to their academic preparation. Students will gain skills in CV assessment, exercise stress testing, and metabolic analyses offering them a competitive edge in the job market by accumulating hours of hands-on, clinical grade experience, setting them apart from other students in other programs. Additionally, the MAS will strengthen the opportunities for research collaborations across our university and with community partners by providing increased opportunities for transformative research in allied health, exercise science, and health assessments. This MAS is needed for interdisciplinary collaborations among students, faculty, staff, and professionals from various fields {e.g., allied health and behavioral sciences), allowing for partnerships with external institutions, including hospitals, clinics, and neighboring universities by providing assessments and research collaborations. Also, this system is critical for our continued commitment to biomedical research focused on allied health by providing assessments to the underserved members of our rural community, veterans, first responders, and student athletes by testing efficiency of caloric output, power production, and CV/CP functioning. This MAS will directly prepare these students for careers in exercise physiology and/or clinical exercise physiology as these concepts are taught in many of the upper-level and graduate courses in their degrees. This hands-on training with clinical-grade instrumentation will prepare our students for better internship experiences in hospitals, cardiac rehabilitation centers, and clinical exercise physiology facilities, making them more competitive candidates and enhancing their ability to contribute meaningfully to patient care during their clinical rotations. Additionally, this instrumentation is needed for students preparing for their acsm certified clinical exercise physiologistse exams and for pursuing accreditation of our degrees in this field.