Hans Degens
Professor of Muscle Physiology at the Department of Life Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Professor Degens was an Assistant Professor at Radboud University Nijmegen (the Netherlands) before his present employment at Manchester Metropolitan University, where he is currently a Professor of Muscle Physiology. He is also a Visiting Professor at Lithuanian Sports University (Kaunas, Lithuania). He has an Honorary Doctorate from the Lithuanian Sports University. His main academic interest is age-related changes in skeletal muscle morphology and function. His team applied single skinned muscle fibres from human muscle biopsies and rodents. Single-skinned muscle fibres allow one to determine changes in cross-bridge kinetics and fibre function without bias that can be introduced in vivo by, e.g., changes in neural drive. He also has an interest in the role of the microcirculation in muscle plasticity and function. He also assesses the impact of physical activity or lack thereof in muscle weakness during ageing, spaceflight and diseases.
Link
h.degens@mmu.ac.uk
Healthy Ageing Expertise
The main research interest of Professor Degens is age-related changes in skeletal muscle morphology and function. In particular, capitalising on the inherent adaptability of the neuromusculoskeletal system.
Relevant Projects
- Impact of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation on skeletal muscle during spaceflight
- Limits to muscle plasticity
- The effects of smoking and vaping on respiratory and muscle function
- Master athletes as a model of healthy ageing
