Postdoc Profile: Michael D. Tarpey
Michael D. TarpeyMentors
Dr. Espen E. Spangenburg
Education
Sport and Exercise Science, B.S. University of Hertfordshire, UK
Exercise Physiology and Sports Nutrition, M.S. University of Hertfordshire, UK
Molecular and Cellular Science, Ph.D. Virginia Tech
Research Summary
My research is broadly aimed at investigating skeletal muscle metabolism and function in the context of metabolic disease and disorders, with a focus on mitochondrial quality. During my time at Virginia Tech I investigating the effects of endurance exercise training and high-fat feeding on skeletal muscle autophagy and mitophagy with a view to elucidating how these processes may support metabolic function in humans.
Currently, I am working to understand the role of breast cancer type 1 (BRCA1) susceptibility gene in skeletal muscle metabolism. As its name suggests, BRCA1 is commonly associated with breast tissue and has received much press due to the increased risk of breast cancer development associated with certain variations of the gene. However, BRCA1 is expressed in numerous tissues, including skeletal muscle. Recent advances indicate a critical role for BRCA1 in regulating skeletal muscle metabolic function and mitochondrial quality, thus I aim to investigate the underpinning mechanisms and consequences for metabolic disease risk in humans.