By Ryan Clark
CHS Communications Director

Nick Thomas, a 29-year-old student in the Rehabilitation and Health Sciences PhD program, is the recipient of a 2024 Research Recognition Award from the American Physiological Society for research concerning muscle recovery following anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries.

Thomas is working with Alexander R. Keeble; Allison M. Owen, PhD; Camille R. Brightwell, MS, PhD, CSCS; Brian Noehren, PT, PhD, FACSM; Yuan Wen, PhD, MD; and Christopher S. Fry, PhD.

“Broadly, our lab aims to uncover molecular underpinnings of poor functional muscle recovery that is typically observed following anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries,” said Thomas, a Phoenix, Ariz., native who graduates this summer. “The project that received the award aimed to define the epigenetic landscape that was hypothesized to antagonize rehabilitation.

“We found that two regulators of gene accessibility — DNA methylation and histone deacetylation — work in reciprocity to maintain an epigenetic landscape in muscle that is unique to ACL injury and represses genes required for muscle adaptation to rehabilitative exercise,” he continued. “My hope is that this project can help guide clinicians toward modifying therapeutic programs to enhance functional recovery for individuals who sustain an ACL injury.”

Thomas will be honored at a reception, April 4-7, in Long Beach, Calif. He also receives a certificate of recognition, complimentary admission to the Cell Section Banquet and $500.

“Receiving notification of the American Physiological Society’s Research Recognition Award felt amazing!” Thomas said. “It represents the culmination of work from not just myself, but also my fantastic lab mates, collaborators and the head of our lab, Chris Fry. It is truly an honor just to share our work with the scientific community, so receiving this award is really quite special.”