Lacy Alexander

Professor of Kinesiology

Lacy Alexander

Research Summary

In vivo and in vitro approaches using the human cutaneous circulation to examine the underlying signaling mechanisms mediating microvascular dysfunction with primary human aging, hypercholesterolemia, and essential hypertension.

Huck Affiliations

Most Recent Publications

Quantification and interpretation of nitric oxide-dependent cutaneous vasodilation during local heating

S Wolf, G Dillon, Lacy Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, A Stanhewicz, 2024, Journal of Applied Physiology on p. 1418-1424

The effect of prescription and over-the-counter medications on core temperature in adults during heat stress: a systematic review and meta-analysis

L Hospers, G Dillon, A McLachlan, Lacy Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, A Capon, K Ebi, E Ashworth, O Jay, Y Mavros, 2024, EClinicalMedicine on p. 102886

The Future of Our PhD Programs: Are We Giving Our PhD Students What They NEED?

Lacy Alexander, 2024, Kinesiology Review on p. 7-12

Inhibition of nuclear factor-jB activation improves non-nitric oxide-mediated cutaneous microvascular function in reproductive-aged healthy women

V Content, A Williams, Lacy Alexander, 2024, American Journal of Physiology on p. H364-H369

Holistic approach to care for patients with endometriosis

Andrea Molina, Ashlie Carter, Lacy Alexander, Arpit Dave, Arpit Davé, Kristin Riley, 2024, Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology on p. 266-272

Platelet aggregation response to cyclooxygenase inhibition and thromboxane receptor antagonism using impedance aggregometry: A pilot study

A Williams, K Fisher, Lacy Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, 2024, Physiological Reports on p. e70002

Impact of androgens on cardiovascular risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and transgender men

Nina S. Stachenfeld, Lacy M. Alexander, Jeffrey R. Bender, Stuart Weinzimer, Lubna Pal, Jane F. Reckelhoff, 2024, on p. 279-293

Quantifying the Implications of Humidity and Temperature on Heat Stress Exposure of Construction Workers: A Worker-Centric Physiological Sensing Approach

Amit Ojha, Houtan Jebelli, Lacy Alexander, Jayson R. Loeffert, 2024, on p. 196-205

Letter to the Editor in response to: Microvascular endothelial function following the cessation of long-term oral contraceptive pill use: A case report

Nathalie V. Kirby, Nina S. Stachenfeld, Lacy M. Alexander, 2023, Experimental Physiology on p. 1092-1094

Intradermal Microdialysis: An Approach to Investigating Novel Mechanisms of Microvascular Dysfunction in Humans

Auni C. Williams, Virginia G. Content, Nathalie V. Kirby, Lacy M. Alexander, 2023, Journal of Visualized Experiments

Most-Cited Papers

Oxidative Stress Contributes to Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Men and Women with Major Depressive Disorder

Jody L. Greaney, Erika F.H. Saunders, Lakshmi Santhanam, Lacy M. Alexander, 2019, Circulation Research on p. 564-574

Increased Angiotensin II Sensitivity Contributes to Microvascular Dysfunction in Women Who Have Had Preeclampsia

Anna E. Stanhewicz, Sandeep Jandu, Lakshmi Santhanam, Lacy M. Alexander, 2017, Hypertension on p. 382-389

Sympathetic regulation during thermal stress in human aging and disease

Jody L. Greaney, W. Larry Kenney, Lacy M. Alexander, 2015, Journal of the Autonomic Nervous System on p. 81-90

Impaired Hydrogen Sulfide-Mediated Vasodilation Contributes to Microvascular Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypertensive Adults

Jody L. Greaney, Jessica L. Kutz, Sean W. Shank, Sandeep Jandu, Lakshmi Santhanam, Lacy M. Alexander, 2017, Hypertension on p. 902-909

Evidence for a functional vasodilatatory role for hydrogen sulphide in the human cutaneous microvasculature

Jessica L. Kutz, Jody L. Greaney, Lakshmi Santhanam, Lacy M. Alexander, 2015, Journal of Physiology on p. 2121-2129

Folic acid supplementation improves microvascular function in older adults through nitric oxide-dependent mechanisms

Anna E. Stanhewicz, Lacy M. Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, 2015, Clinical Science on p. 159-167

INOS-dependent sweating and eNOS-dependent cutaneous vasodilation are evident in younger adults, but are diminished in older adults exercising in the heat

Naoto Fujii, Robert D. Meade, Lacy M. Alexander, Pegah Akbari, Imane Foudil-Bey, Jeffrey C. Louie, Pierre Boulay, Glen P. Kenny, 2016, Journal of Applied Physiology on p. 318-327

Historical reviews of the assessment of human cardiovascular function: interrogation and understanding of the control of skin blood flow

David A. Low, Helen Jones, N. Tim Cable, Lacy M. Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, 2020, European Journal of Applied Physiology

Four weeks of vitamin D supplementation improves nitric oxide-mediated microvascular function in college-aged African Americans

S. Wolf, Nina Jablonski, Sara B. Ferguson, Lacy M. Alexander, W. Larry Kenney, 2020, American Journal of Physiology on p. H906–H914

Mechanisms and time course of menthol-induced cutaneous vasodilation

Daniel H. Craighead, Nathaniel B. McCartney, James H. Tumlinson, Lacy M. Alexander, 2017, Microvascular Research on p. 43-47

News Articles Featuring Lacy Alexander

Sep 15, 2025

Submerging forearms in water may help protect older adults during extreme heat

Immersion of hands and forearms helps lower core body temperature, according to a new study from researchers in the Penn State Department of Kinesiology.

Full Article

Aug 20, 2025

Endometriosis affects more systems in women’s bodies than previously understood

Women with the condition displayed lower blood pressure responses to stress than other women in new study .

Full Article

Oct 30, 2024

Physiology Conference to feature celebration marking 50 years of Noll Lab research

Penn State and the American Physiological Society will celebrate a half century of research at the groundbreaking Noll Laboratory, welcoming attendees of the Integrative Physiology of Exercise (IPE) conference with commemorative “Noll@50” events centered around the landmark facility.

Full Article

Mar 21, 2023

Kinesiology professor to edit Journal of Applied Physiology

Lacy Alexander, professor of kinesiology at Penn State, has been named editor-in-chief of the Journal of Applied Physiology, a leading scientific journal in the study of how organs, tissues, cells and molecular components of humans and animals respond to stressors.

Full Article

Jul 23, 2022

People with endometriosis might be at higher risk for stroke

According to a study published Thursday in Stroke, a journal of the American Stroke Association (part of the American Heart Association), people with endometriosis — a common gynecological condition marked by pain in the pelvis and back, painful and heavy periods, and infertility — were at a 34 percent greater risk of developing a stroke compared to their non-endometriosis peers.

Full Article