Steven Prior

Aging and a sedentary lifestyle lead to changes in skeletal muscle and the vasculature that contribute to aging-associated diseases and disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia and declines in physical function.

Steven Prior's research is focused on conducting exercise intervention studies to determine mechanisms by which the risk for these aging-associated diseases may be reduced in older adults. His laboratory uses state of the art techniques to assess angiogenesis and skeletal muscle capillarization, as well as in vivo vascular function and glucose metabolism. The lab has also developed basic science and cell culture techniques to study the number and function of circulating factors that may contribute to improvements in angiogenesis and vascular function in older adults.

Prior is currently funded by the National Institutes of Health and Department of Veterans Affairs for his research examining mechanisms underlying abnormal angiogenesis and vascular dysfunction in the context of peripheral arterial disease and sarcopenia, as well as how exercise training may restore normal angiogenesis, metabolism and physical function in these individuals.