Michaela Devries-Aboud

Research interests

Intraymyocellular lipids (IMCL) are elevated in obese individuals and this has been related to insulin resistance; however, IMCL are also elevated in athletes who are highly insulin sensitive. In my basic research program I am interested in examining whether differences in the localization of IMCL within the muscle fibre and/or co-location of IMCL with mitochondria are related to differences in insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism to better our understanding of the physiological and pathological role of IMCL. I also examine whether there are differences in these relationships between the sexes.

In my clinical research program I test the effects of exercise and nutrition strategies on muscle metabolism, insulin sensitivity and muscle mass, strength and function in pre-diabetic and older populations to help prevent the development of type II diabetes and sarcopenia.

Graduate supervision and student opportunities

• Research volunteer
• Undergraduate thesis
• MSc thesis
• Coursework interns
• PhD thesis
• Postdoctoral fellowship

Please email me to discuss current available opportunities.

Graduate studies application details

Teaching, expertise, tools and technologies

• Skeletal muscle metabolism
• Sex-based differences in metabolism
• Exercise physiology
• Human nutrition and metabolism
• Aging and sarcopenia
• Insulin sensitivity
• Electron microscopy

Courses

KIN 205: Muscle Physiology in Exercise and Work

Education

BSc Human Kinetics with a Minor in Nutrition (with Honours),  University of Guelph 

PhD Medical Sciences: Cell Biology and Metabolism, McMaster University

Postdoctoral Fellowship Kinesiology, McMaster University 

​Selected publications

See Google Scholar for full list of publications.