Dr. Xiangli Gu’s research focuses on promoting minority health and health disparities research in physical activity and motor behavior across the life span. Her research has taken a programmatic approach to understanding the health disparities through the behavioral and neuropsychological levels of assessment, health implications of physical activity, and interventions to promote healthy behavior and motor performance in school and community settings. A recently funded U.S. HHS Minority Research study (project Move) targeted multiple-level changes and influences among young children (3-5-years old) and parents to increase the likelihood of developing long-term health habits that promote daily physical activity and positive trajectories of child development (i.e., healthy weight, gross motor skills, social-emotional skills and cognitive function) by targeting both Head Start and home settings. This line of research focuses on identifying physical activity (PA) strategies and building supportive environments to prevent childhood obesity and developmental delays for school readiness in the underserved minority children (Hispanic/Latino and Black/African American)

Dr. Xiangli Gu has also conducted a series of epidemiological studies with vulnerable populations (e.g., underserved minority children and youth, individuals with disabilities) to investigate the behavioral and social determinants of physical activity and mental health outcomes (e.g., executive function, depression, quality of life). In recent years, she has expanded her research topics by focusing on transformative research using innovative technologies (i.e., mobile APP, wearable sensors, virtual reality systems) to conduct interventions in order to promote healthy behaviors (i.e., physical activity, sleep) and mental/cognitive outcomes through the integrative biological and behavioral perspective in home, school and community settings; this effort has been supported by various external funding resources.

• Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Physical Activity and Mental/Cognitive Health
• Environmental (built and natural environment) and Social Determinants of Health and Behavioral Disparities across the Life Span
• Evidence-Based Physical Activity Interventions on Neuromotor and Psychosocial Well-Being (i.e., Depression, Memory decline; Neurological Disorders)
• Implementation of Technology-Infused (E.G., Neuro-Rehab VR System, Wearable Sensors) Physical Activity Interventions to Promote Brain and Cardiovascular Health.
• Using Multisensory Wearable Devices for Evaluation and Assessment of the Human Mobility (i.e., balance, gait) and 24-Hours Movement Behaviors (Sleep, Physical Activity, and Sedentary Behaviors; Actigraph LEAP™ )
• Utilizing Digital Cognitive Assessments for Neuromotor Performance, Correlated to Neural Network (CANTAB®; produce more data points and reduce noise, making them highly sensitive)

Built and Natural Environment Has Direct and Indirect Effects on Health and Behavioral Disparities (e.g., obesity, chronic disease, physical inactivity)