Contact
Programs
Departments & Divisions
Institutes & Centers
Research Areas
Diabetes & Kidney Health Longevity & AgingBlake B. Rasmussen, PhD
Professor, Biochemistry & Structural Biology
Director, Center for Metabolic Health
Currently seeking Ph.D. students
Dr. Rasmussen's research is in the area of muscle biology and metabolism. Research topics include: 1) molecular mechanisms regulating muscle growth and atrophy in aging and disease; 2) mTORC1 and nutrient signaling in skeletal muscle; 3) molecular transducers of physical activity; and 4) cellular mechanisms underlying metabolic dysfunction. The lab conducts research in both humans and transgenic mouse models. The goal of the lab is to develop new strategies and therapies to counteract muscle loss with aging (Sarcopenia) and to improve metabolic health in older adults.
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Professional Background
Education
- 1997 - PhD - Zoology and Cellular Biology - BYU
Training
- 2000 - Post-doctoral Fellowship - Metabolism - UTMB
Highlights
2022-present Advisory Editorial Board, Aging Cell
2021 Honor Award, Texas Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine
2019-2023 Member, NIH Skeletal Muscle & Exercise Physiology Study Section
2012-2016 Member, NIH/AMS Study Section
Appointments
- 2023 - Present - Professor of Biochemistry & Structural Biology - UT Health San Antonio
- 2009 - 2023 - Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Nutrition & Metabolism - University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
- 2004 - 2009 - Associate Professor of Nutrition & Metabolism - UTMB
- 2000 - 2004 - Assistant Professor of Integrative & Evolutionary Biology; Kinesiology - University of Southern California
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Instruction & Training
- 2023 - Present, PhD Student and Post-Doc Training, UT Health San Antonio
- 2004 - 2023, PhD Student and Post-Doc Training, UTMB
- 2004 - 2023, Courses: Current Topics in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Advanced Metabolism; Advanced Exercise Physiology, UTMB
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Research & Grants
Grants
Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity Consortium (MoTrPAC)
U01 AR071150/AR071130 Rasmussen (PI) 12/07/16-06/30/25
Sex Specific Determinants of Early-Phase Recovery from Skeletal Muscle Disuse
R01 AG064386 Rasmussen (PI) 08/15/19-03/31/24
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Publications
RECENT PUBLICATIONS
Metabolomic and Lipidomic Signature of Skeletal Muscle with Constitutively Active mTORC1
Rosario Maroto, Ted G Graber, Trevor B Romsdahl, Andrzej Kudlicki, William K Russell, Blake B Rasmussen
J Nutr. 2023 Oct 26:S0022-3166(23)72670-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tjnut.2023.10.016. Online ahead of print.Skeletal Muscle Transcriptome Alterations Related to Declining Physical Function in Older Mice
Ted G Graber, Rosario Maroto, Jill K Thompson, Steven G Widen, Zhaohui Man, Megan L Pajski, Blake B Rasmussen.
J Ageing Longev. 2023 Jun;3(2):159-178. doi: 10.3390/jal3020013. Epub 2022 May 31.GADD45A is a mediator of mitochondrial loss, atrophy, and weakness in skeletal muscle
George R Marcotte, Matthew J Miller, Hawley E Kunz, Zachary C Ryan, Matthew D Strub, Patrick M Vanderboom, Carrie J Heppelmann, Sarah Chau, Zachary D Von Ruff, Sean P Kilroe, Andrew T McKeen, Jason M Dierdorff, Jennifer I Stern, Karl A Nath, Chad E Grueter, Vitor A Lira, Andrew R Judge, Blake B Rasmussen, K Sreekumaran Nair, Ian R Lanza, Scott M Ebert, Christopher M Adams.
JCI Insight. 2023 Oct 10:e171772. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.171772. Online ahead of print.Postabsorptive muscle protein synthesis is higher in outpatients as compared to inpatients
Paul T Reidy, Michael S Borack, Jared M Dickinson, Chad C Carroll, Nicholas A Burd, Micah J Drummond, Christopher S Fry, Bradley S Lambert, David M Gundermann, Erin L Glynn, Melissa M Markofski, Kyle L Timmerman, Tatiana Moro, Elena Volpi, Scott Trappe, Todd A Trappe, Matthew P Harber, Blake B Rasmussen.
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2023 Aug 1;325(2):E113-E118. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00144.2023. Epub 2023 Jun 14.