Our People

Chad Carroll

Principle Investigator

My interest in physical activity led me to the field of exercise physiology. I completed my Ph.D. work at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Center on Aging. I returned to the Ball State University Human Performance Laboratory for a post-doctoral fellowship in 2004. We published novel work demonstrating the impact of aging, regular exercise, and analgesic medication on in vivo patellar tendon properties in humans. My first faculty position was at Midwestern University, a private osteopathic medical school in Glendale, AZ. After a few years, I received funding via the NIH R15 mechanism to study the potential for dietary phytoestrogens to improve tendon health. In 2016, I started a faculty position at Purdue University and was recently promoted to Associate Professor. 
 
 
My academic work has molded an overall portfolio of research, teaching, and service around a central theme of tendon biology. The long-term goal of my research is to determine the mechanisms contributing to poor tendon health and discover approaches for normalizing tendon function. Tendon pathology (tendinopathies) affects 1 out of every 4 Americans, with exceptionally high rates in persons with diabetes. Tendinopathies lead to reduced quality of life and considerable economic burden. My multi-faceted research portfolio has projects focused on endogenous circulating mediators of tendon pathology. These mediators include advanced glycation end-products (AGEs, which are elevated in persons with diabetes) and hormones such as estrogen. His work also focuses on nutritional interventions and how their combination with exercise can modify tendon health. Our team’s work spans the translational spectrum – from molecular biology experiments to test disease mechanisms to human clinical trials to test treatment efficacy. We are supported by an external grant from the National Institutes of Health. 
 
In my free time, I enjoy trail running, ultra-marathons, resistance training, gardening, and building Legos, and spending time with his wife and kids. 

Twitter: @PurdueTendon
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/
HHS: https://hhs.purdue.edu/directory/chad-carroll/

Dylan Easley

Postdoctoral Fellow

I am originally from Vienna, IL and completed my undergraduate and Master’s degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Texas Tech University, respectively. I earned my Ph.D. at Virginia Tech in 2024, my dissertation focused on the effects of eccentric muscle loading for Achilles tendon healing. During that time, I became deeply interested in tendon homeostasis and how different disease states influence the healing response. My current research in the Carroll lab will focus on imaging modalities (US and MRI) to explore the relationship between serum advanced glycation products (AGE) and lipid species with in vivo tendon biomechanical properties and extracellular matrix disorganization.
In my spare time, I enjoy baking, listening to music, and hiking local trails with my dog.

Eric Guitierrez

PhD Student

Eric is originally from San Antonio, TX and is an active-duty military officer and Purdue Military Research Initiative Fellow. His research in the Carroll Lab focuses on understanding the physiological bases of musculoskeletal injury to enhance service member readiness through prevention and early diagnosis. He is currently leading an NIH funded human research project that uses imaging modalities (US and MRI) to explore the relationship between serum advanced glycation products (AGE) with in vivo tendon biomechanical properties and extracellular matrix disorganization.  
 
Eric is married to Becky and enjoys weight training, running, reading, motorsports, and attempting to play the piano. 

Gordon Smilanich

PhD Student

Gordon is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and serves as a teaching assistant in the Health and Kinesiology department at Purdue University. He currently teaches the exercise physiology lab and is the lecture teaching assistant. Gordon’s research in the Carroll Lab focuses on understanding the effect of exogenous estrogen on tendon health. He is currently leading an in vivo study using ultrasound and MRI imaging to elucidate age related declines in tendon biomechanics and morphology in women across pre-, peri- and post-menopause.  
 
Previously, Gordon studied and played rugby at Central Washington University where he completed his B.S. in clinical physiology and a minor in physical rehabilitation therapy. In his free time, Gordon enjoys weight training, movies, tv shows, and sports.  

Recent Publication: Freire, A. P., Eustis, K. J., Lemes, Í. R., Saragiotto, B. T., Smilanich, G., Elkins, M., & Pinto, R. Z. (2025). Conclusiveness of Cochrane systematic reviews is low but accumulating across time in physical therapy: A Meta-Research Study. Brazilian Journal of Physical Therapy, 29(3), 101190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bjpt.2025.101190


https://www.linkedin.com/in/gordon-smilanich-583733247/

Isaac Lennox

PhD Student

I am originally from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. I earned my B.S. in Kinesiology from Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, where he was a member of the NCAA Division II Men’s Golf Team. I went on to earn an M.S. degree at Michigan Technological University, where my thesis focused on the Exercise is Medicine^® on Campus initiative, studying physical activity prevalence across the United States. My research in the Carroll Lab will focus on determining the relationship between serum AGE concentrations and tendon healing in humans undergoing ACL surgery.
In my spare time, I enjoy playing golf and ice hockey.

Matthew Fortino

Undergraduate Researcher

Matthew Fortino is from Indianapolis, Indiana and is pursuing a degree in biomedical health sciences on a pre-med concentration. He plans to attend medical school after graduation. In his free time he enjoys working out, spending time with friends, and watching movies.

Aidan Hopwood

Undergraduate Researcher

Aidan Hopwood is from Carmel, Indiana and is obtaining a degree in biological engineering with a concentration in cellular and biomolecular engineering and pre-medicine. Aidan enjoys playing soccer, working in physical therapy, and baking.