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Emily   LaVoy

Emily LaVoy, Ph.D.

Associate Professor

Office Number: 141 MEL
Phone: 713.743.0829
Fax: 713.743.9860

Email: eclavoy@uh.edu

Mailing Address:
3875 Holman St., Rm 104 Garrison
Houston, TX 77204-6015

Download Curriculum Vitae

Research Interests

My research investigates the effects of physical fitness and exercise on the immune system, with the long-term goal of understanding how physical fitness and exercise can improve diseases and conditions associated with immune dysregulation, such as cancer. I am also interested in how physical fitness and exercise can mitigate the impact of stress on the immune system.

Recent Publications and Research Activity

Hodgman, C.F. Hunt, R.M., Crane, J.C. Elzayat, M.T., LaVoy, E.C. (2023) A Scoping Review on the Effects of Physical Exercise and Fitness on Peripheral Leukocyte Energy Metabolism. Exerc Immunol Rev. 29:54-87 PMID: 37358364

Hunt, R., Elzayat, M., Laughlin, M., Markofski, M.M., LaVoy, EC. (2023) Characterization of Transitional Memory CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell Mobilization During and After an Acute Bout of Exercise. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1120454

Crane, J., Gordon, M., Basen-Engquist, K., Ferrajoli, A., Markofski, M.M., Young, C., Fares, S., Simpson, R., LaVoy, E.C. (2023) Relationships between T-lymphocytes and physical function in adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia: results from the HEALTH4CLL pilot study. European Journal of Haematology https://doi.org/10.1111/ejh.13958

Savage, H., Pareek, S., Lee, J., Ballaro, R., Minussi, D.C., Hayek, K., Sadullozoda, M., Lochmann, B., McQuade, J., LaVoy, E., Marmonti, E., Patel, H., Wang, G., Imanishi, M., Kotla, S., Abe, J., Schadler, K. (2023) Aerobic exercise alters the melanoma microenvironment and modulates ERK5 S496 phosphorylation. Cancer Immunology Research https://doi.org/10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-22-0465

Batatinha, H., Diak, D., Niemiro, G., Baker, F., Smith, K., Zúñiga, T., Mylabathula, P., Seckeler, M., Lau, B., LaVoy, E.C., Gustafson, M., Katsanis, E., Simpson, R.J. (2023) Human lymphocytes mobilized with exercise have an anti-tumor transcriptomic profile and exert enhanced graft-versus-leukemia effects in xenogeneic mice. Front Immunol https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1067369

Gupta P, Hodgman CF, Alvarez-Florez C, Schadler KL, Markofski MM, O'Connor D.P., LaVoy, E.C. (2022) Comparison of three exercise interventions with and without gemcitabine treatment on pancreatic tumor growth in mice: No impact on tumor infiltrating lymphocytes. Front Physiol. [https://doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.1039988]https://doi:10.3389/fphys.2022.1039988

Hodgman, C.F., LaVoy, E.C., Johnston, C.A., Obasi, E., Murillo R., Yan S., O’Connor D.P., McNeill, L. Reitzel, L.R., Hernandez, D.C. (2022) Measuring pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers among low-income Hispanic adults: a feasibility and pilot assessment. Health Behavior Research Vol. 5: No. 3. https://doi.org/10.4148/2572-1836.1143

Graff, R.M., Jennings, K., LaVoy, E.C., Warren, V., Macdonald, B., Park, Y., Markofski, M. (2022) T-cell counts in response to acute cardiorespiratory or resistance exercise in physically active or physically inactive older adults: A randomized crossover study. Journal of Applied Physiology [https://doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00301.2021]https://doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00301.2021

Gupta, P., Hodgman, C.F., Schadler, K.L., LaVoy, E.C. (2022) Effect of exercise on pancreatic cancer patients during treatment: A scoping review of the literature. Supportive Care in Cancer https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-06925-7

Markofski, M.M., Jennings, K., Hodgman, C.F., Warren, V.E., LaVoy, E.C. (2021) Physical activity during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is linked to better mood and emotion. Stress & Health https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.3111

Elzayat, M.T., Markofski, M.M., Simpson, R.J., Laughlin, M., LaVoy, E.C (2021) No effect of acute eccentric resistance exercise on immune responses to Influenza vaccination in older adults: a randomized control trial. Frontiers in Physiology https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.713183

Reesor-Oyer, L., Murillo, R., LaVoy, E.C., O’Connor, D.P., Liu, Y., Hernandez, D.C. (2021) The role of leisure time physical activity and sedentary behavior in the income-overweight/obesity relationship. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18063127

Graff, R., Jennings, K., Davies, N., Carrillo, A., LaVoy, E.C., Ryan, E.J., Markofski, M. (2021) A short-term paleolithic dietary intervention does not alter adipokines linked to adiposity. International Journal of Exercise Science https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijes/vol14/iss2/3

LaVoy, E.C., Palmer, C.A., So, C., Alfano, C.A. (2020) Bidrectional relationships between sleep and biomarkers of stress and immunity in youth. International Journal of Psychophysiology https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpsycho.2020.10.010

Kunz, H.E., Agha, N.H., LaVoy, E.C., Hussain, M., Smith, K.A., Mylabathula, P., Diak, D., Baker, F.L., O'Connor, D. P., Bond, R.A., Katsanis, E., Bollard, C.M. Simpson, R.J. (2020) The effects of β1 and β1+2 adrenergic receptor blockade on the exercise-induced mobilization and ex vivo expansion of virus-specific T-cells: implications for cellular therapy and the anti-viral immune effects of exercise. Cell Stress and Chaperones https://doi.org/10.1007/s12192-020-01136-7

Lee, J., Hong, J. Umetani, M., LaVoy, E.C., Kim, J., Park, Y. (2020) Vascular protection by exercise in obesity: inflammasome-associated mechanisms. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise https://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000002419

Education

B.S. in Biology at Northern Michigan University, 2005

M.S. in Biology at Northern Michigan University, 2008

Ph.D. in Kinesiology at University of Houston, 2014