My research focus has always been the impact of protein/nutrition in combination with muscular training on skeletal muscle adaptation. I have designed and conducted human in vivo research projects to measure whole body muscle mass, whole muscle and single fiber size, as well as the muscle protein turnover rates and the related intramuscular signaling. Hence, I have ample experience with long-term intervention studies as well as acute and invasive trials and my research adhere to international research conduction guidelines (Clinical trials registration, Vancouver statement, CONSORT checklist) and legislation (e.g. ethical approval, data management according to GDPR act May 2018) required for this kind of research. My major scientific contributions have been to hypothesise the link between muscle contraction intensity and muscle growth. Further, to show that the impact of light load intensities on muscle growth is by sensitizing the tissue to respond anabolically to postprandial amino acid availability, although this seems impaired in older individuals. These questions were investigated more thorough both mechanistically and longitudinally in the 1-y intervention trial in the CALM-project in which I was co-PI.
In addition, my interest is also on development/adjustment of methodological approaches and their applications for in vivo human experimentations. Hence, I have contributed to the scientific field by developing an in vivo method to directly measure the protein breakdown rate.
As an expert in the field I have served as opponent on Master and PhD theses and been invited for international conferences and seminars due to my research profile.