Advancing the science of sleep, recovery, and athletic performance through rigorous clinical research and wearable technology.
The HERO Lab — Human Enhancement Recovery Optimization — is a research collaboration between UCLA and UCSF dedicated to advancing the science of human performance and recovery.
In partnership with WHOOP, we combine wearable biometric data with rigorous clinical trial methodology to answer the questions that matter most to athletes: How do I sleep better? How do I recover faster? How do I perform at my peak?
Our research moves beyond one-size-fits-all approaches. By integrating continuous physiological monitoring with objective performance testing, we identify individualized strategies for sleep optimization, targeted supplementation, and recovery protocols.
Our clinical trials use randomized, placebo-controlled designs combined with continuous wearable monitoring to generate high-quality evidence.
NCT07015047 · Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial
Investigating whether brain-targeted magnesium supplementation (MgT) can enhance sleep architecture, autonomic recovery, and physical performance in NCAA Division I athletes.
NCT06565468 · Prospective Cohort Crossover Study
Assessed the impact of cold water immersion (CWI) on objective and subjective recovery metrics in NCAA Division I athletes, using continuous WHOOP biometric monitoring to identify individual responders.
IRB #24-000791 · Prospective Cohort Study
Investigating objective physiological and oculomotor biomarkers to track concussion recovery in NCAA Division I athletes, with the goal of developing data-driven return-to-play protocols.
Investigating how targeted interventions affect deep sleep, REM sleep, and sleep consistency in athletes using continuous wearable monitoring.
Studying cold-water immersion, supplementation, and other recovery modalities to develop personalized protocols based on individual physiological responses.
Leveraging WHOOP data—HRV, resting heart rate, respiratory rate—to identify individual responders and predict recovery trajectories.
Measuring reaction time, skill execution under cognitive load, and decision-making to understand the brain-body connection in athletic performance.
Rigorous, placebo-controlled testing of supplements including magnesium L-threonate and creatine to establish evidence-based recommendations for athletes.
Developing frameworks for using biometric data to guide training load, inform return-to-play decisions, and reduce injury risk across collegiate sports.
Our team combines clinical sports medicine expertise with research methodology across two leading academic medical centers.
Principal Investigator
UCLA · David Geffen School of Medicine
HS Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Team physician for UCLA Women's Volleyball and Swim & Dive. Research focuses on concussion, wearable physiological monitoring, recovery science, and injury prevention. Previously provided medical coverage for the LA Lakers, LA Dodgers, and LA Sparks.
Co-Investigator
UCLA · David Geffen School of Medicine
Associate Clinical Professor, Departments of Family Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery
Team physician for the Los Angeles Chargers (NFL) and UCLA Beach Volleyball. Associate Director of the UCLA Steve Tisch BrainSPORT Program. Program Director for the UCLA Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship. Research spans sleep and athletic performance, youth sports, and concussion.
Sports Medicine Fellow
UCLA · David Geffen School of Medicine
Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellow, Department of Family Medicine
Sports medicine fellow and team physician for UCLA Women's Golf, Women's Tennis, Men's Volleyball, and Softball. Research interests include concussion, athletic performance, and sleep in elite athletes.
Co-Investigator
UCLA · David Geffen School of Medicine
HS Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine
Primary care sports medicine physician specializing in musculoskeletal ultrasound. Graduate of the David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Sports Medicine Fellowship. Former NCAA water polo athlete at UC San Diego.
Co-Investigator
UCLA · David Geffen School of Medicine
Associate Clinical Professor, Departments of Family Medicine & Orthopaedic Surgery
Team physician for UCLA Men's Basketball and Football, the LA Sparks, and USA Basketball. Dual-trained in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics with research focused on sleep and athletic performance, and mental health in collegiate athletes.
Co-Investigator
UCLA Health
Sports Medicine & Family Medicine Physician
Sports medicine physician at UCLA Health Malibu. Graduate of Baylor College of Medicine and the UCLA Sports Medicine Fellowship. Specializes in non-surgical orthopedic conditions and musculoskeletal ultrasound.
Collaborating Investigator
UCSF · Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Assistant Professor, Primary Care Sports Medicine; Fellowship Program Director
UCSF faculty and fellowship program director in primary care sports medicine. UCLA Sports Medicine Fellowship graduate with research interests in digital health technologies and wearable-based athlete monitoring.
Director of Rehabilitation
UCLA Athletics
Physical Therapist & Certified Athletic Trainer
Director of Rehabilitation for UCLA Athletics. Board certified sports and orthopedic clinical specialist supporting performance testing, injury prevention, and return-to-play protocols across multiple UCLA sports programs.
Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 2024
Characterized sleep patterns across UCLA varsity athletes using WHOOP wearable data, finding average sleep consistency of 61.6% and identifying key differences across sports, sex, and training phases.
View on PubMedAMSSM Annual Meeting, 2025
Prospective cohort crossover study in 37 NCAA athletes demonstrating that CWI reduces muscle soreness and improves HRV, RHR, and recovery scores in responder subgroups, supporting individualized recovery approaches.
View on ClinicalTrials.govAMSSM 36th Annual Meeting · April 24–29, 2026 · Seattle, WA
Pilot data from a randomized, placebo-controlled trial in UCLA varsity athletes showing improvements in reaction time, WHOOP sleep and recovery scores, and subjective readiness.
AMSSM 36th Annual Meeting · April 24–29, 2026 · Seattle, WA
Prospective case series of 11 NCAA Division I athletes evaluating resistance training during acute concussion recovery. No adverse events were reported, with a 96% reduction in SCAT6 symptom scores from initial assessment to the day after weightlifting (p = 0.002, d = −1.26). Earlier introduction of weightlifting correlated with faster symptom resolution (ρ = 0.75, p = 0.005), suggesting resistance training may be safely integrated into post-concussion rehabilitation.
UCLA Sports Medicine, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
NCT07015047 · In Progress
Full-scale randomized, placebo-controlled trial in 100 UCLA varsity athletes investigating brain-targeted magnesium supplementation with continuous WHOOP biometric monitoring.
View on ClinicalTrials.govOur research is grounded in the existing scientific literature. Explore the evidence that drives each of our focus areas.
Magnesium plays a key role in sleep regulation, but existing evidence in athletes is limited. MgT uniquely crosses the blood-brain barrier, making it a promising candidate for improving sleep architecture.
Meta-analyses support CWI for reducing muscle soreness, but optimal protocols remain unclear. Our research uses wearable biometrics to identify individual responders.
Return-to-play decisions rely on subjective symptom reporting. Dr. Goldman’s CARE Consortium research established blood-based biomarkers for concussion, and our work extends this with wearable and oculomotor monitoring.
WHOOP has been validated for heart rate, HRV, and sleep detection. Our team published foundational data on sleep in NCAA athletes using WHOOP, enabling continuous monitoring that traditional assessments cannot capture.
Interested in collaborating or learning more about our methodology? We welcome inquiries from researchers in sports medicine, sleep science, and exercise physiology.
Email UsUCLA varsity athletes interested in participating in our current or upcoming studies can reach out to learn about eligibility and enrollment.
View Current StudiesWe partner with companies committed to evidence-based product development. If your organization is interested in research collaborations, we'd like to hear from you.
Partner With UsDavid Geffen School of Medicine
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Los Angeles, CA
School of Medicine
Human Performance Center
San Francisco, CA