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Skeletal Muscle Laboratory
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220 Moby-B Complex
Colorado State University
Phone: 970-491-6702
Benjamin F. Miller Ph.D.
(Bio)
Phone: 970-491-3291
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High above the Horsethooth Reservoir from left to right: Ben
Miller, Kohi, Jeff Rivera, Elise Donovan, Cheryl Murphy, Jon Land, Matt
Robinson, and Karyn Hamilton. Missing from picture, Haka (behind the rock). |
We use an integrative approach to study both healthy skeletal
muscle and the deterioration of skeletal muscle with age. The primary goal of
our research is to determine the causes of age-related decreases in muscle size
and strength (sarcopenia), and how to slow that progression or reverse it. We
focus on non-pharmaceutical interventions of exercise and nutrition to obtain
these goals. We are working toward addressing three primary areas;
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the role of the extracellular matrix in the deterioration of muscle strength,
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the dependency of protein structural metabolism on energy metabolism with
particular attention on the timing of nutrition,
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the role of mitochondria in sarcopenia.
To date we have performed in vivo human studies exclusively. The primary means
to obtain information is by stable isotopic tracers and local sampling by
microdialysis. Human studies present their own unique sets of challenges and
difficulties. But, by performing studies within the system of interest, we know
that the outcomes are directly applicable. In the future we hope to take
advantage of the different
"-omic" specialties at CSU in order to perform comprehensive studies of
genomic→proteomic→metabolomic→metabolic flux.
It is our opinion (as well as others) that the phenotypic expression of
metabolic pathways only occurs in the context of the system of interest, which
is the information that stable isotopic tracers provide. However, the other
component pieces, the "-omics", provide the tools for understanding the causes
of similarities or differences between different metabolic states. Finally, an
important part of our work is making it relevant to the population of interest.
In that sense it is our goal to perform intervention studies to ensure that our
recommendations have practical outcomes that benefit the individual.
STUDENTS (supervising or co-supervising)
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Cheryl Murphy PhD candidate (University of Auckland)
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Anna Rolleston PhD candidate (University of Auckland)
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Darren Ellis MS (University of Auckland)
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Dr. Norbert Baume, Post-Doctoral Fellowship from the Swiss Anti-doping
Laboratory
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Matt Robinson PhD student
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Elise Donovan PhD student co-supervised with Dr. Karyn Hamilton
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Jon Land Undergraduate
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Jeff Rivera GC-MS technician
OTHER FACULTY AT CSU
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
How can you get involved?
Students
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If you are an undergraduate student, please contact
Dr Miller
directly about getting involved in our studies. It is a good way for you to get
exposed to what health-related human research is about.
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Potential Masters students should see the Department's site realted to our
MS Program. After acceptance in to the program it is a good idea to
explore the different labs to get an idea of what you would like to do.
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Potential PhD students should first contact
Dr Miller directly to talk about your interests. Be sure to also check
out the requirements for our new (Fall, 2007)
Bioenergetics PhD Program in the department.
Potential Subjects
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If you are interested in taking part in one of our studies, we will be looking
we will start recruiting in the fall of 2007. We are usually looking for
healthy older (over 55) individuals. We do also periodically recruit younger
subjects. If you have any interest at all, please contact
Dr Miller.
Community
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If your community group has an interest in healthy practices through exercise
and aging, please feel free to contact
us. It is part of our mission to provide those in the community the
information from our studies in a manner that is easy to understand and
implement.
Other Links
PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:
JOURNALS:
COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY AND FORT COLLINS:
OUTSIDE THE LAB:
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