Welcome!

That physical activity can greatly benefit brain health and function is common knowledge. However, this knowledge has not yet been clinically harnessed for targeted, specific interventions in pediatric populations. The Ivy Lab vision is that all children, including those most vulnerable to neurological and psychiatric disability, can benefit from the effects of physical activity on improving and maintaining brain health throughout life.

The mission of the Ivy Lab is to understand, on a molecular level, the neurodevelopmental implications of exercise during early-life. We use cutting-edge techniques that merge neuroscience with molecular biology to uncover exercise-induced epigenetic mechanisms (chemical tags within cells influenced by environmental experiences) that directly impact the function of the developing brain. We believe the study of exercise neurobiology can shed light on new treatment strategies for promoting brain health and resilience.