Research Focus
Human Skeletal Muscle Metabolism, Exercise & Recovery
The Nutrition and Metabolism Research Group is based in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies at Queen's University. Led by Dr. Chris McGlory we conduct in vivo human research focused on skeletal muscle metabolism, exercise and training adaptation, disuse atrophy, nutrition, rehabilitation, and ageing.
Our central focus is understanding how skeletal muscle remodels in response to changes in loading and nutrition. We study both sides of that continuum; adaptation to exercise and training, and muscle loss during immobilization, bed-rest, injury, or recovery from surgery. This allows us to examine how exercise and nutrition can promote adaptation when activity is possible and preserve or restore muscle when it is not.
Our studies integrate whole-body and whole-muscle physiology with tissue, cellular, and molecular outcomes. Stable isotope tracers, 3T Dixon MRI, exercise testing, and muscle biopsies allow us to connect changes in muscle protein metabolism with changes in muscle size, function, and performance.
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Research Lines
Research Themes
We investigate the biological processes that regulate skeletal muscle size, composition, and function. Across our exercise, immobilization, and recovery studies, we combine stable isotope tracers with MRI and functional testing to relate protein turnover and amino acid kinetics to changes in muscle size, strength, and performance. Oral deuterated water allows us to measure integrated muscle protein synthesis over days or weeks, capturing adaptation across extended interventions rather than only during short laboratory measurement windows.
Exercise, Training & Adaptation
We conduct controlled exercise and training studies to determine how skeletal muscle remodels in response to physical activity and how nutrition modifies that response. Our studies combine exercise physiology and performance testing with stable isotope tracers, MRI, and muscle biopsy analyses, allowing us to link changes in muscle protein turnover and molecular physiology with changes in muscle size, strength, cardiorespiratory fitness, and physical function. This integrated approach helps us understand not only whether an intervention changes performance or muscle phenotype, but also the biological processes underlying that adaptation.
Complementing our exercise research, we study the metabolic and physiological changes that drive muscle loss with advancing age, or with reductions in physical loading . Using limb-immobilization and bed-rest models, we investigate how reduced activity alters muscle protein turnover, mitochondrial function, muscle size, and physical performance. These controlled models also allow us to test whether nutritional strategies can reduce muscle loss or improve recovery when normal activity is restored.
We investigate how targeted nutritional strategies, alone or alongside exercise and rehabilitation, influence skeletal muscle metabolism and recovery. This includes studying how nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids and essential amino acids affect muscle protein metabolism, membrane composition, and the response to feeding and exercise. Our translational work includes randomized controlled trials around surgery and rehabilitation, including anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction.
infrastructure
Research Facilities
Clinical & Functional Testing
Human Trials & Exercise Physiology Suites
Our facility includes dedicated human-trials spaces for exercise physiology, prolonged immobilization, and bed-rest studies. This supports controlled laboratory exercise experiments, training interventions, and clinical or disuse protocols within the same research environment. Metabolic carts, isokinetic dynamometry, strength testing, and related equipment allow us to assess cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle function, physical performance, and whole-body metabolic responses in healthy and clinical populations.
Mass Spectrometry Platform
High-Resolution Metabolic Tracing
Our analytical platform includes a GC-IRMS system (Trace 1310 coupled to a Delta Q isotope ratio mass spectrometer) for measuring isotope enrichment in protein-bound amino acids, together with a Picarro L2130-I cavity ring-down spectrometer for body-water enrichment. In-house analysis gives us greater control over complex tracer studies involving repeated sampling over days or weeks, while enabling us to provide selected analytical services to external research groups.
Molecular Wet Lab
Comprehensive Sample Processing
Our wet laboratory supports on-site processing of plasma, saliva, and skeletal muscle samples, including homogenization, hydrolysis, purification, and amino acid derivatization for downstream isotope analysis. Proximity to the clinical testing areas allows time-sensitive samples to be processed rapidly under controlled conditions.
Supported by world-class institutions and funding agencies
recruitment
Work with us
We welcome motivated students and researchers interested in human skeletal muscle physiology, exercise metabolism, nutrition, disuse, rehabilitation, and clinical research. Our group provides a collaborative training environment with opportunities to develop expertise in human exercise and clinical trials, stable isotope methods, imaging, muscle biopsy techniques, functional testing, and molecular analysis.
Interested in our work?
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