International Photobiomodulation Expert Dr. Ann Liebert Highlights Research-Backed Light Therapies Available at Shepherd University Wellness Center

ISSUED: 4 February 2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Hans Fogle

SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV - Ann Liebert, an internationally recognized leader in photobiomodulation (PBM) research and professor of research and development at Shepherd University, visited campus on Monday, February 2, 2026, to deliver a public lecture on the role of light-based therapies in improving healthspan and treating complex medical conditions. The event, hosted by the Shepherd University Wellness Center, welcomed students, faculty, clinicians, and community members.

Liebert's presentation, Photobiomodulation and the Healthspan, explored how targeted light therapies influence cellular and mitochondrial function to reduce inflammation, enhance tissue repair, support neurological health, and potentially slow functional decline associated with aging. While human lifespan has increased globally, Liebert emphasized that healthspan-the number of years lived in good health-has not kept pace, and PBMrepresents a promising, evidence-based strategy to help close that gap.

PBM is defined as the therapeutic use of visible and near-infrared light absorbed by cellular chromophores, triggering non-thermal biological processes that lead to meaningful physiological change. Liebert traced the scientific foundations of light therapy from early medical pioneers through decades of modern laboratory and clinical research, highlighting its growing role in precision and preventive medicine.

A major focus of the lecture was Liebert's internationally recognized Parkinson's disease research. She presented findings from long-term clinical trials demonstrating sustained improvements in motor function, gait, balance, cognition, sleep quality, and overall quality of life among participants receiving transcranial and abdominal photobiomodulation-outcomes that contrast with the expected progression of the disease.

Importantly, the same categories of PBMdevices discussed in Liebert's presentation-and used in her research and that of her international collaborators-are available for use and rental at the Shepherd University Wellness Center. These devices are currently used at the Wellness Center for wellness support, performance enhancement, recovery, and research-informed applications under established protocols.

Liebert also highlighted emerging evidence connecting PBMto positive changes in the gut microbiome and the gut-brain axis, with observed benefits for inflammation, pain modulation, neurological function, wound healing, musculoskeletal recovery, and sports performance. Additional applications discussed included Alzheimer's disease, traumatic brain injury, chronic pain conditions, and concussion prevention.

In addition to her role at Shepherd University, Liebert serves as a research fellow at the University of Sydney and Western Sydney University, coordinator of Photomolecular Research at Sydney Adventist Hospital, and editor of Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. She has led and collaborated on numerous international clinical trials and has authored extensively on the mechanisms and clinical applications of PBM.

Community members interested in learning more about PBMor getting started with PBM services are encouraged to visit:
https://shepherdwellness.com/photobiomodulation/

The event underscored Shepherd University's leadership in translational wellness science and its commitment to providing community access to research-informed, evidence-based health technologies.

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