Mission

The Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Laboratory conducts studies aimed at the identification, evaluation, and understanding of nutritional and physical activity interventions that possess anabolic properties in skeletal muscle and have the potential to prevent or reverse impaired motor performance and/or physical dysfunction in older adults.

Lab Objectives

1. Investigate the nutritional and activity-related mediators of skeletal muscle atrophy associated with advancing age in animal and human studies.

o Sub-objective 1A: Determine the mechanisms and efficacy of nutrient modulation on overload-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Specifically, we will evaluate anabolic capacity and putative intracellular signaling mechanisms of selected micro- and macronutrients on skeletal muscle growth in aging animals.

o Sub-objective 1B: Perform parallel clinical studies to determine the influence of physical activity/exercise and nutrition on the control of muscle growth in older adults with defined low muscle mass and functional limitations.

2. Evaluate the chronic effects of dietary proteins/amino acids and physical activity/inactivity on changes in skeletal muscle structure and function and physical functioning in at-risk older individuals.

o Sub-objective 2A: Determine the efficacy of selected nutritional and lifestyle behaviors on age-related changes in skeletal muscle physiology and physical functioning. A key feature of these studies will be our approach to evaluate these responses in populations of adults who, due to a multitude of co-morbidities and behaviors, are at the greatest risk for the development of late life disability.

Staff

Roger A. Fielding, Ph.D., Laboratory Director
Senior Scientist and Professor, Nutrition
Research focus: Impact of exercise and physical activity on successful human aging; skeletal muscle alterations with advancing age in disabled and non-disabled populations; and age-related alterations in the control of skeletal muscle protein turnover

Donato Americo Rivas, Ph.D.
Scientist III
Research focus: The role of substrates on cellular signaling pathways controlling skeletal muscle metabolism and growth; and how nutrition, aging and exercise contribute to alterations in skeletal muscle energy homoeostasis.

Michael Lustgarten, Ph.D.
Postdoctoral Associate
Research focus: Metabolomic predictors of: fitness (aerobic capacity, muscle strength), muscle injury/overuse, and aging.

Kieran Reid, M.Sc., Research Program Manager

Mauricio Morais, M.S., Senior Research Assistant

Prashanth Haran, B.S. , Senior Research Technician

Cynthia Hau, B.S., Research Technician

Brandon Won Kim, B.S. Research Technician

John Mills, B.S. ,Research Technician

Evan Pasha, B.S. , Research Technician

Erica Cifarelli, M.S. Project Coordinator

Dylan Kirn, B.S. Project Coordinator

Vince Beard, B.S. , Research Technician

Kathleen Benoit, Budget and Administrative Assistant

For contact information, please click on the scientist's webpage or visit the Tufts University online directory athttp://whitepages.tufts.edu/.