W. Larry Kenney

Thematic Area Lead, Health and the Environment
Titles and Affiliations
Professor and Marie Underhill Noll Chair in Human Performance, Kinesiology

Dr. W. Larry Kenney is the Marie Underhill Noll Chair in Human Performance and a Professor of Physiology and Kinesiology at Penn State, internationally recognized for his expertise in human thermoregulation and the health impacts of heat. His pioneering research explores how the body responds to heat stress, with a special focus on vulnerable populations and the growing risks posed by climate change.

In the News

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Recent Publications

Ability of Basic Physiological Monitoring to Identify Excessive Occupational Heat Strain

Bernard, T. E., Ashley, C. D., Uysal, I. & Kenney, W. L., 2025, In: Journal of occupational and environmental medicine. Publish Ahead of Print

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Heat extremes and cardiovascular diseases: a scientific statement of the Association of Cardiovascular Nursing & Allied Professions, Association for Acute Cardiovascular Care, European Association of Preventive Cardiology, Heart Failure Association, European Heart Rhythm Association of the ESC, the ESC Council on Hypertension, the ESC Council on Stroke, and the ESC Working Group on Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy

Chaseling, G. K., Uchmanowicz, I., Bäck, M., Miró, Ò., Tokmakova, M., Ljungman, P., Laukkanen, J., Bruno, R. M., Ntaios, G., Rocca, B., Jay, O., Alexander, L. M., Kenney, W. L. & Moons, P., Aug 7 2025, In: European Heart Journal. 46, 30, p. 2950-2958 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Cardiovascular challenges of aging in a hotter environment: a narrative review

Cottle, R. M., Wolf, S. T. & Kenney, W. L., 2025, In: Journal of applied physiology. 139, 3, p. 832-838 7 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Intermittent hand and forearm immersion in 20°C water attenuates thermal, cardiovascular, and perceptual strain in older adults during heat stress

Cottle, R. M., Fisher, K. G., Leach, O. K., Conroy, D. E., Alexander, L. M. & Kenney, W. L., 2025, (Accepted/In press) In: Experimental Physiology.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Low-dose ASA therapy does not alter core or skin temperature during hot-dry or warm-humid heat stress (PSU HEAT project)

Fisher, K. G., Leach, O. K., Cottle, R. M., Alexander, L. M. & Kenney, W. L., May 2025, In: Physiological reports. 13, 9, e70375.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Maximal skin wettedness as a function of environment and metabolic rate in unacclimated young and older adults (PSU HEAT Project)

Fisher, K. G., Leach, O. K., Cottle, R. M. & Kenney, W. L., Oct 2025, In: International Journal of Biometeorology. 69, 10, p. 2711-2718 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Age and livability in a hotter climate

Kenney, W. L., Cottle, R. M., Vecellio, D. J., Fisher, K. G., Leach, O. K., Kong, Q. & Wolf, S. T., Dec 2025, In: EBioMedicine. 122, 106020.

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

How to train your graduate students to (want to) win you awards

Kenney, W. L., Jan 2025, In: Journal of applied physiology. 138, 1, p. 270-273 4 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialpeer-review

Manuscript writing for dummies: like sands through the hourglass

Kenney, W. L., Mar 1 2025, In: Journal of applied physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985). 138, 3, p. 718-719 2 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalEditorialpeer-review

Systemic cardiovascular and carotid baroreflex support of arterial pressure during recovery from passive heat stress in young and older adults

Larson, E. A., Kaiser, B. W., Reed, E. L., Gibson, B. M., Abbotts, K. S. S., Kenney, W. L., Minson, C. T. & Halliwill, J. R., Sep 2025, In: Physiological reports. 13, 17, e70554.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

No effect of stage 1 hypertension or hypertensive medication on critical environmental limits (PSU HEAT Project)

Leach, O. K., Fisher, K. G., Cottle, R. M. & Kenney, W. L., Aug 2025, In: American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology. 329, 2, p. H395-H400

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Drinking Water NaCl Is Associated With Hypertension and Albuminuria: A Panel Study

Rosinger, A. Y., McGrosky, A., Jacobson, H., Hinz, E., Sadhir, S., Wambua, F., Otube, T., Baker, L. J., Sherwood, A. C., Chrissy-Mbeng, T., Broyles, L. M. T., Musumeci, C., Meriwether, N. C., Bobbie, N., Farrar, Z., Todd, M., Nguyen, Z., Berger, G., Ford, L. B. & Braun, D. R. & 8 others, Hunter, M. D., Douglass, M. J., Farquhar, W. B., Kenney, W. L., Sands, J. M., Nzunza, R., Ndiema, E. K. & Pontzer, H., Aug 1 2025, In: Hypertension. 82, 8, p. 1368-1378 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A Novel Conceptual Model for Human Heat Tolerance

Bernard, T. E., Wolf, S. T. & Kenney, W. L., Apr 1 2024, In: Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews. 52, 2, p. 39-46 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Critical environmental core temperature limits and heart rate thresholds across the adult age span (PSU HEAT Project)

Cottle, R. M., Fisher, K. G., Leach, O. K., Wolf, S. T. & Kenney, W. L., Jul 2024, In: Journal of applied physiology. 137, 1, p. 145-153 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Lower maximal skin wettedness in both warm-humid and hot-dry environments with advanced age (PSU HEAT project)

Fisher, K. G., Vecellio, D. J., Cottle, R. M., Leach, O. K., Wolf, S. T. & Kenney, W. L., Dec 2024, In: Journal of applied physiology. 137, 6, p. 1549-1553 5 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review