Scholar Spotlight

Dr. Ken Rundell

Kenneth W. Rundell, Ph.D. – Professor, Director of the Human Physiology Laboratory

Dr. Ken Rundell came to Marywood University in 2002 after 10 years at the United States Olympic Training Center in Lake Placid where he served as a Senior Sport Physiologist.  At Marywood, his research focus has been the area of emission-generated particulate matter inhalation and the development of exercise-induced asthma and new onset asthma.

In 2004, Dr. Rundell received the Murray Award for Research and Development.  Established by Marywood University trustee, Mary Alice Collins Murray ’52, and her husband, Michael Murray, the Murray Awards are intended to provide seed funding for preliminary faculty research leading to more significant grant applications to outside funding sources.  Dr. Rundell’s research funded by the Murray Award provided foundational data for successful grant funding from, among others, the National Science Foundation.  His successful application to the NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program resulted in a $105,000 grant to Marywood University.  His most recent grant submissions to the Sandler Foundation and the National Institutes of Health involve the development of new onset asthma from chronic air pollution inhalation during exercise; these submissions are based on the preliminary data obtained from the Murray Award.                                   

In addition to clinical trials for major international pharmaceutical companies, Dr. Rundell’s most recent activities include air quality research for the International Olympic Committee in Beijing and research on the use of sildenafil as a respiratory system enhancer for the World Anti-doping Agency (WADA).  Articles in several nation and international publications, both lay and scientific journals, including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Daily News, and the International Herald Tribune were joined by television features of Dr. Rundell’s research by ESPN and the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp.)  Dr. Rundell most recently authored two features publications in the December 2008 issue of the prestigious Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Dr. Rundell is closely associated with student research, serving as a much sought after thesis advisor and dissertation chair for students in Marywood’s masters and doctoral programs.  His students have published in peer-reviewed publications, presented at national research venues, and been accepted at prestigious doctoral and post-doctoral programs.

Dr. Rundell’s educational background includes a B.S. in Biology from Kent State University, a M.S. in Biology/Education from Elmira College, and his Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology from Syracuse University, with post-doctoral study in Physiology at SUNY Upstate Medical College.