Jorge L Ruas
Institute for Heart & Brain Health (IHBH)
2800 Plymouth Rd.
Ann Arbor, MI 48019-2800
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About
After receiving my Pharm.D. degree from the University of Lisbon, I moved to Karolinska Institutet (KI) for my doctoral studies. During that time I investigated how cellular oxygen levels can regulate adaptive gene expression, and in 2005 received my Ph.D. in Medical Sciences.
In 2006 I moved to Boston to pursue postdoctoral studies at the Division of Metabolism and Chronic Disease at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School. During this period I focused on the study of transcriptional networks that control skeletal muscle physiology. In 2011 I started my research group at the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology at KI, became an Associate Professor in 2016, and Professor of Molecular Physiology in 2020.
In 2023 I joined the Department of Pharmacology and The Institute for Heart & Brain Health(link is external) at the University of Michigan Medical School as Professor of Pharmacology.
Our research (ruaslab.science) aims to identify the molecular mediators of the health benefits of exercise and to use this knowledge to develop novel disease therapies.
Links
Lab Website twitter
Qualifications
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PostdocHarvard Medical School, Cell Biology, Boston, United States
2006 - 2011
Postdoctoral Research
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PhDKarolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
1999 - 2005
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PharmDUniversity of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
1989 - 1995
Center Memberships
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Center MemberFrankel Institute for Heart and Brain Health
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Center MemberSamuel and Jean Frankel Cardiovascular Center
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Center MemberAI and Digital Health Innovation
Research Overview
Research in our laboratory is aimed at understanding the molecular mechanisms that mediate skeletal muscle adaptations to diverse challenges and their local and systemic consequences. We are particularly interested in understanding how exercised or sedentary skeletal muscle cross-talks with other organs, and how it can affect individual health and disease.
Recent Publications
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Ruas J, Cervenka I, Leuchtmann A, Jannig P, Ducommun S, Naddaf E, Kokesh E, Correia J, Murgia M, Sereiva T, Li B, Yang F, Jude B, Rumyantseva A, Azzolini M, Porsmyr-Palmertz M, Yang W, Mann M, Freyer C, Wredenberg A, Lanner J, Hahn A, Töpf A, Straub V. 2026 Mar 11; Research Square,PreprintThe E3 ligase HECTD1 controls skeletal muscle sarcomere and mitochondrial integrity
DOI:10.21203/rs.3.rs-8663318/v1 -
Dumont KD, Seradj SH, Wang Y, Liu S, Cervenka I, Wu C, Jannig PR, Porsmyr-Palmertz M, Baiges-Gaya G, Huang X, Nihlen C, Dias JM, Skiotyte SS, Prastholm SM, Quinn M, Lundberg JO, Teixeira AI, Rosenzweig A, Wu J, Ye L, Ruas JL. Cell reports, 2025 Apr 7;Journal ArticleSensory neuron-derived CGRPalpha controls white adipocyte differentiation and tissue plasticity
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Horwath O, Cornet L, Strömlind H, Moberg M, Edman S, Söderlund K, Checa A, Ruas JL, Blomstrand E. Skeletal Muscle, 2025 Dec 1; 15 (1):Journal ArticleEndurance exercise with reduced muscle glycogen content influences substrate utilization and attenuates acute mTORC1- and autophagic signaling in human type I and type II muscle fibers
DOI:10.1186/s13395-025-00377-3 PMID: 40128889 -
Dumont KD, Jannig PR, Porsmyr-Palmertz M, Ruas JL. American Journal of Physiology Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2025 Feb 1; 328 (2): E274 - E285.Journal ArticleConstitutive loss of kynurenine-3-monooxygenase changes circulating kynurenine metabolites without affecting systemic energy metabolism
DOI:10.1152/ajpendo.00386.2024 PMID: 39805032 -
Pham TCP, Raun SH, Havula E, Henriquez-Olguín C, Rubalcava-Gracia D, Frank E, Fritzen AM, Jannig PR, Andersen NR, Kruse R, Ali MS, Irazoki A, Halling JF, Ringholm S, Needham EJ, Hansen S, Lemminger AK, Schjerling P, Petersen MH, de Almeida ME, Jensen TE, Kiens B, Hostrup M, Larsen S, Ørtenblad N, Højlund K, Kjær M, Ruas JL, Trifunovic A, Wojtaszewski JFP, Nielsen J, Qvortrup K, Pilegaard H, Richter EA, Sylow L. Nature Communications, 2024 Dec 1; 15 (1):Journal ArticleThe mitochondrial mRNA-stabilizing protein SLIRP regulates skeletal muscle mitochondrial structure and respiration by exercise-recoverable mechanisms
DOI:10.1038/s41467-024-54183-4 PMID: 39537626 -
Dedic B, Westerberg L, Mosqueda Solís A, Dumont KD, Ruas JL, Thorell A, Näslund E, Spalding KL. Aging Cell, 2024 Nov 1; 23 (11):Journal ArticleSenescence detection using reflected light
DOI:10.1111/acel.14295 PMID: 39102872 -
Horwath O, Cornet L, Strömlind H, Moberg M, Edman S, Söderlund K, Checa A, Ruas JL, Blomstrand E. 2024 Oct 22; bioRxiv,PreprintEndurance exercise with reduced muscle glycogen content influences substrate utilization and attenuates acute mTORC1- and autophagic signaling in human type I and type II muscle fibers
DOI:10.1101/2024.10.14.618241 -
Kamandulis S, Lukonaitiene I, Snieckus A, Brazaitis M, Mickevicius M, Cernych M, Ruas J, Schwieler L, Louvrou V, Erhardt S, Westerblad H, Venckunas T. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2024 Oct 1; 56 (10): 2007 - 2015.Journal ArticleMood, Cognitive Function, and Plasma Kynurenine Metabolites Responses Following Severe Changes in Physical Activity
DOI:10.1249/MSS.0000000000003488 PMID: 38857520
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