Independent research · est. 2026 · Dane County, Wisconsin

Studying how the body recovers, adapts, and repairs.

DreamLab Institute is the research arm of DreamLab — investigating hyperbaric oxygen, photobiomodulation, equine-assisted intervention, and metabolic phenotyping through rigorous, longitudinal measurement. We design studies in partnership with clinicians, universities, and the athletes and patients we serve.

Propose a collaboration See research areas

Headwaters of Nine Springs Creek · five acres · south of Madison

Our stance

Recovery science is rich with mechanism and thin on longitudinal, multimodal data from real people. We operate a working clinic, so every protocol is grounded in practice — and every session is an opportunity to measure carefully, share openly, and ask better questions.

Research areas

Four modalities, one measurement spine

Each area runs on the same longitudinal data backbone — metabolic panels, HRV, body composition, and structured outcomes — so effects can be compared and combined.

01

Hyperbaric Oxygen (HBOT)

Mild hyperbaric sessions (1.3–1.5 ATA) raise dissolved oxygen and may modulate inflammation, perfusion, and recovery. We track dose, comfort, and downstream metabolic response across repeat visits.

  • How does mild HBOT shift post-exertion metabolic recovery?
  • What dose cadence sustains benefit without diminishing returns?
02

Photobiomodulation

Red and near-infrared light (630–850 nm), delivered systemically and transcranially, targets mitochondrial function. We study delivery geometry, dosing, and pairing with HBOT and metabolic protocols.

  • Does full-body NIR change lactate clearance or HRV recovery?
  • What transcranial parameters track with subjective cognitive state?
03

Equine-Assisted Intervention

Structured time with horses — “equine mind meld” — as a regulating, co-regulatory practice. We pair sessions with HRV and self-report to study autonomic and affective response in a naturalistic setting.

  • How does equine contact shift HRV and stress markers acutely?
  • Can it amplify the integrative phase of a recovery session?
04

Metabolic Phenotyping

Lactate power curves, glucose and ketone panels, body composition, and HRV — captured the same way each visit. The shared spine that lets us see whether any single modality actually moves the needle over time.

  • What does a quarterly lactate curve reveal about training adaptation?
  • Which markers best predict an individual's recovery trajectory?

Current work

Studies in development

Protocols below are in design. We publish status openly and welcome partners at any stage — from protocol review to co-investigation.

For research partners

We're looking for collaborators.

DreamLab Institute runs a fully-equipped clinic with a standing measurement protocol — which makes it a fast, low-friction site for pilot studies in recovery, metabolic, and neuromodulation science. We're actively seeking academic and clinical partners for study design, co-investigation, and access to a real-world treatment population.

What we bring

  • An operating clinic with HBOT, full-body and transcranial PBM, and equine access
  • A standing longitudinal data spine — lactate, glucose/ketones, body composition, HRV
  • 3D body-composition capture (gaussian-splat morphometry) for structural endpoints
  • A real-world population of athletes, patients, and recovery-focused clients
  • Engineering capacity for custom instrumentation and data pipelines
research@dreamlab.institute

University and clinical inquiries welcome — protocol review, IRB, and data-sharing discussions included.

Affiliated clinic

The Institute is the research arm of DreamLab — a metabolic testing and recovery clinic at Ponderosa.

Visit dreamlab.clinic