“Ohio University Professor Brian Clark Presents Research on Function Promoting Therapies for Age-Related Weakness at Nationally Recognized Workshop”

Brian Clark, a professor of Physiology and the Executive Director of Ohio Musculoskeletal and Neurological Institute (OMNI), was chosen as one of the 40 global expert leaders in the field of aging to present at a workshop hosted by the National Institute of Health’s (NIH) National Institute on Aging (NIA). The workshop covered essential topics such as advances in muscle biology, novel candidate molecules, findings from randomized trials, and challenges faced in designing clinical trials and regulatory approval of function-promoting therapies. Clark spoke about his research on the role of the nervous system in age-related muscle weakness, which was also published in the Journal of Gerontology, calling for a better understanding of age-related physical function loss to develop rationale therapeutic strategies. Clark’s research finds significant correlations between neural mechanisms and age-related loss of muscle strength, which identifies potential therapeutic targets for improving muscle strength and function. The findings highlight the need for exercise and physical activity to maintain muscle strength and function with age. Collaborators from Ohio University supported Clark in his research, and he is currently working on identifying the role of the motor neuron and developing novel tools for diagnosing sarcopenia and osteoporosis. The research is funded by around $10 million in grants from NIH.