The University of Massachusetts Amherst
Gwenael Layec

Gwenael Layec

Assistant Professor of Kinesiology

Musculoskeletal physiology, bioenergetics, mitochondria, cardiovascular physiology, magnetic resonance spectroscopy/imaging

Location

Life Science Laboratories

240 Thatcher Rd
Amherst, MA 01003
United States

S313

My current research goals are to:

  • Better understand the role of oxidative stress and physical inactivity in mediating peripheral abnormalities in O2 transport and muscle bioenergetics associated with aging and disease (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral arterial disease, heart failure).
  • Explore pharmacologic, nutritional, or exercise-based strategies that can mitigate the deleterious vascular and metabolic dysfunction associated with these conditions.

To achieve these goals, I employ an integrative approach from the cellular level to the whole organism in humans, which encompasses ultrasound Doppler, magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P/1H) and imaging, motor nerve stimulation, high-resolution respirometry, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and a host of molecular and cellular biology techniques.

Research Lab Website: 

Oxygen and Muscle Metabolism Laboratory

Education

  • Postdoctoral Fellow. University of Utah, Salt Lake City, 2013
  • PhD, Université de la Mediteranée, Marseille, France, 2008
  • MS, Université Montpellier I, Montpellier, France, 2004
  • BS, Université Montpellier I, Montpellier, France, 2002

Key Publications

Layec, G.; Bringard, A.; Le Fur, Y.; Vilmen, C.; Micallef, J.P.; Perrey, S.; Cozzone, P.J.; Bendahan, D. Comparative determination of energy production rates and mitochondrial function using different 31P MRS quantitative methods in sedentary and trained subjects. NMR in biomedicine. 24:425-438; 2011a

Layec, G.; Hart, C.R.; Trinity, J.D.; Le Fur, Y.; Jeong, E.K.; Richardson, R.S. Skeletal muscle work efficiency with age: the role of non-contractile processes. Clin Sci (Lond). 128:213-223; 2015

Layec, G.; Haseler, L.J.; Hoff, J.; Richardson, R.S. Evidence that a higher ATP cost of muscular contraction contributes to the lower mechanical efficiency associated with COPD: preliminary findings. American journal of physiology. 300:R1142-1147; 2011b

Layec, G.; Haseler, L.J.; Trinity, J.D.; Hart, C.R.; Liu, X.; Le Fur, Y.; Jeong, E.K.; Richardson, R.S. Mitochondrial function and increased convective O2 transport: implications for the assessment of mitochondrial respiration in vivo. J Appl Physiol (1985). 115:803-811; 2013

Layec, G.; Trinity, J.D.; Hart, C.R.; Le Fur, Y.; Zhao, J.; Reese, V.; Jeong, E.K.; Richardson, R.S. Impaired muscle efficiency but preserved peripheral hemodynamics and mitochondrial function with advancing age: Evidence from exercise in the young, old, and oldest-old. The journals of gerontology; 2018

University of Massachusetts Amherst