Professor Leigh Breen profile page

Dr. Leigh Breen is a professor in translational muscle physiology at the University of Birmingham, UK. His research focuses on understanding the regulatory mechanisms of skeletal muscle plasticity and investigating potential therapies to support and optimize muscle remodeling/function in health and disease. A few major research contributions of Dr. Breen’s include using in vitro cell culture and in vivo human studies that incorporate muscle biopsies and stable isotope tracers to advance understanding of i) mechanisms of age-related sarcopenia, ii) the role of inactivity as a driver of sarcopenia and iii) the importance of dietary protein to support muscle health across the life course. He heads a research group consisting of post-doctoral fellows, PhD/MRes students, visiting academics and interns. His research has been conducted largely under the auspices of the Medical Research Council/Versus Arthritis Centre for Musculoskeletal Ageing Research (CMAR) and the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), with research outputs being implemented in the funding renewal bids for these centers. Dr. Breen is supported by extensive research funding (relative to the field) from UKRI, charitable foundations, healthcare bodies and industry partners, to the tune of >£3.5 million as a principal investigator since 2013. He also leads the UKRI-funded ‘ATTAIN’ Network, which focuses on transformative healthy aging research through physical activity in those most affected by health inequalities.