The principle focus of the Affordance Perception-Action Laboratory is on perception and action in virtual environments. Research programs are motivated primarily by the ecological approach to human-machine systems. Areas of research include driving, postural control, performance in head-mounted displays, and motion sickness. Collaborative links exist with researchers in the US, Canada, France, and Japan. The APAL was formerly the Human Factors Research Laboratory (HFRL).

The Clinical Movement Science Center is an interdisciplinary organization at the University of Minnesota focusing on problems affecting the human motor system. Its faculty offer perspectives from the fields of engineering, kinesiology, the neurological, rehabilitation and clinical sciences.

The principle focus of the HPTL is to provide Kinesiology graduate and undergraduate students the latest laboratory equipment and experiences in biomechanics, human and exercise physiology. In addition to the lab’s full complement of physiology and biomechanics laboratory teaching equipment the HPTL also has a small classroom for laboratory instruction.

Researchers in this lab attempt to enhance understanding of how the human brain controls movement. Studies focus on recording neuropsychological, psychophysical, electrophysiological, and biomechanical measurements in humans. Researchers examine how infants and children learn to reach for objects and how people with certain diseases lose their coordination. Through these studies, we hope to learn how the nervous system coordinates multiple limb movement.

The Human and Sport Performance Laboratory is part of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science at the University of Minnesota. Since 1938, the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise Science has been one of the leaders of exercise and human performance research. The Human and Sport Performance Lab extends this historical legacy of research by providing exercise testing, prescription, movement analysis and training services to athletes, community members, and public safety service employees. The fully equipped Human and Sport Performance Laboratory is continuing to facilitate research questions regarding human movement, exercise and performance as well as educating future exercise physiologists and specialists. The Human and Sport Performance Laboratory is contributing to the dissemination of current research related the health and well being of today’s athlete through consultation and presentation in various sports clubs, athletic departments and schools.

The principle focus of the LIHP is to examine the effects of various disease states and treatments on vascular as well as cardiac systems in an integrative approach. Numerous collaborative studies are being conducted with a number of researchers at the University of Minnesota in various departments such as Pediatrics, Epidemiology, Preventive Cardiology, Oncology, as well as researchers in the University of Minnesota General Clinic Research Center, St. Paul Heart Clinic, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In the Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Health (LMH), we take a multi-disciplinary approach to improve our understanding of how bone adapts its dimensions, geometry and strength to changes in mechanical load. Our focus is on physical activity interventions in children and adolescents both for optimizing bone development, and also for obesity prevention and management. We also work with clinical populations who have altered mechanical load from reduced muscle force or neurological changes such as patients with stroke or athletes after ACL surgery. We incorporate biomechanical assessments into our studies to define "load" on bone and are interested in how, hormones, psychosocial stress, and nutrition influence the bone response to loading.

LPHES has recently completed the large multi-center HERITAGE Family Exercise Study. This study examined the interaction of exercise and genetics on risk factors for coronary artery disease and diabetes. Other research focuses at LPHES include studies funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs evaluating the relationships between insulin resistance, sodium sensitivity, blood flow, vascular structure and function, and blood pressure.

This research group provides sport industry clients outstanding consulting services while providing sport management students with real world experience in which to apply current sport management theory and practices.

This interdisciplinary center, the first of its kind in the nation, is dedicated to exploring the impact of sport, recreation, and physical activity on the lives of girls and women. The center focuses, not just on research, but also emphasizes education, community outreach, and public service.