Research Team

Director

Brian Noehren is the director of the Human Performance and Biomotion Laboratories. Brian received his physical therapy training at the University of Connecticut. Following practicing in a busy clinic for four and half years he returned to receive his Ph.D. at the University of Delaware. Since starting at the University of Kentucky in 2009 he has worked closely with the Department of Orthopedic Surgery to develop a focused research program on lower extremity injuries. His work is focused on combining biomechanics with measures of muscle function and pain response to better understand mechanisms of injury to ultimately improve patient outcomes. Brian is a passionate runner and hiker who loves to be outdoors. He is married with two children who love to go on adventures exploring Kentucky and beyond.

Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery Director and Chief: Sports Medicine University of Kentucky School of Medicine Dr Johnson is a nationally recognized physician in the field of sports medicine, particularly in complex knee surgery. Currently he serves as the Professor and Chief of Sports Medicine at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine at the University of Kentucky. He serves as head team orthopedic surgeon to the UK Wildcats as well as a busy clinical practice in treating patients throughout the commonwealth and surrounding states. He has a particular interest in the prevention, treatment of ACL injuries in the athletically active. His true passion is surgeon education of his profession. He travels to multiple national meetings around the country and internationally as an invited guest speaker expert on complex topics as it relates to knee injuries. He was born and raised in Torrance, California: received his BS degree from the UCR-UCLA program in Biomedical Sciences and MD degree at UCLA. He completed his orthopedic residency at the University of Southern California followed by a fellowship in sports medicine and shoulder surgery at the University of Pittsburgh under director Freddie H Fu MD. He joined the UK faculty in 1993. He was one of four national applicants selected in 1995 by the AOA as a John Fahey North American traveling Fellow. He was selected as one of three sports medicine orthopedic surgeons by the AOSSM to travel to Europe in 1997 for an exchange fellowship, a highlight of his career. He has served on the Board of Directors of the AAOS, AOSSM , and Southern Orthopedic Association(past president) . The first president of the SOA from the state of Kentucky. He was selected as SEC Team physician of the year in 2013 by the 14 member institutions. In 2013 he was recognized as one of the top 19 US sports medicine specialists by Orthopedics this week. In 2016 he was recognized as one the of the top 16 North American sports medicine knee surgeons by Orthopedics this week. From 2000 to 2018, he served as the Chief/Chair of UK orthopedic surgery: successfully transitioning from division to department and tripling the size of the department(clinical volume/faculty) . US News ranking of number 45 for the department in 2018, highest ever. Resident fellow compliment doubled in size. He has published over 100 peer reviewed manuscripts as well as over 30 book chapters, and edited 2 text books entitled “Clinical Sports Medicine” and “Reconstructive knee Surgery”. He has presented at multiple national and international meetings on varied complex topics related to knee and shoulder problems in the athletically active. He is annually selected as one of the “Best Doctors in America” by Castle Connelly as well as “Top Doctors” in America. He resides in Lexington, Kentucky, Thoroughbred race horse capitol of the world and home to the National Champion UK Wildcats with his family, wife Nancy, son Brandon 26 and daughters Kelsey 24 and Lauren 22. His outside interests including all outdoor activities particularly spending time with the family, fly fishing, hunting, skiing, and golf.

Christopher Fry, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition & Metabolism in the School of Health Professions (SHP) at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB). Dr. Fry received a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Baylor University, a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Biomedical Sciences from UTMB and completed his Post-Doctoral training in Muscle Physiology at the University of Kentucky. His research interests include aging, nutrition, exercise and muscle physiology. Dr. Fry's research focuses on elucidating the mechanisms that regulate skeletal muscle plasticity to establish interventions to maintain skeletal muscle mass and strength during conditions of muscle wasting. Much of his current work involves studying the contribution of different progenitor cells to muscle adaptation. Projects in lab include aging muscle growth, muscle recovery following an ACL injury, and interventions to promote restoration of atrophied muscle following a severe burn injury. Dr. Fry's lab utilizes several different experimental models, including cell culture, rodent models as well as muscle samples from clinical studies.