Sarah Lessard

Sarah Lessard, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and in the Department of Human Foods, Nutrition, and Exercise within the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech. Her research is centered on the molecular mechanisms of exercise, particularly in the context of metabolic diseases such as diabetes.

• Associate Professor, Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC
• Associate Professor, Department of Human Foods, Nutrition, and Exercise, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Tech
• Former Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Joslin Diabetes Center

Education:

• Ph.D., Medical Sciences and Exercise Physiology, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, Australia
• M.Sc., Human Biology and Nutritional Science, University of Guelph, Canada
• B.Sc., Biomedical Science and Biochemistry, University of Guelph, Canada

Dr. Lessard’s research focuses on understanding why individuals respond differently to exercise, particularly those with metabolic disorders. Her work investigates the molecular signaling pathways that regulate muscle adaptation and aerobic capacity, especially under conditions of hyperglycemia. She aims to identify therapeutic strategies to enhance exercise benefits in populations with blunted responses, such as individuals with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Her lab employs a multidisciplinary approach, including tissue culture, animal models, and human studies.

Her recent publications reveal a strong trend in the molecular and metabolic responses to exercise, with a focus on insulin signaling, muscle remodeling, and the impact of hyperglycemia on training adaptation. She has published in top-tier journals such as Nature Metabolism, Nature Communications, and Diabetes, contributing to the understanding of exercise resistance and metabolic health.

Scientific Awards:

• No awards listed in the provided text.

Dr. Lessard leads the Lessard Lab, which is part of the Center for Exercise Medicine Research at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Her research is funded by the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). She mentors a team of researchers and collaborates with experts in cardiovascular, cancer, and neuroscience fields to translate findings into clinical applications. Her work has significant implications for improving health outcomes in aging and chronic disease populations through optimized exercise regimens.