BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH
NAME
POSITION TITLE
Joshua C Drake
Post Doctoral Fellow
eRA COMMONS USER NAME (credential, e.g., agency login)
jdrake4
EDUCATION/TRAINING (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial professional education, such as nursing, and include postdoctoral training.)
DEGREE
YEAR(s)
FIELD OF STUDY
(if applicable)
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
B.S.
M.S.
Ph.D.
05/2007
05/2010
05/2014
Exercise Physiology
Exercise Physiology
Human Bioenergetics
Post-doc
6/2014present
Molecular Cardiology and
Skeletal Muscle
Metabolism
A. Personal Statement
My current research focuses on how exercise training promotes skeletal muscle mitochondrial quality within
metabolic disorder (i.e obesity and diabetes). My field of study has been investigating the regulation of
synthetic processes (e.g. mRNA, protein, & DNA) in obese and slowed aging mouse models with special focus
on the use of stable isotope tracers. Specifically, I demonstrated that treatment of AMPK agonists to ob/ob
mice, a model of obesity and diabetes, normalizes elevated mTORC1-related signaling and several initiation
factors involved in mRNA translation. More recently, I demonstrated using a novel means of assessing
proteostasis with the stable isotope deuterium oxide, that an increase in proteostatic mechanisms across
multiple tissues may be a shared characteristic of several independent mouse models of slowed aging.
Furthermore, I showed that the increase in proteostatic mechanisms associated with slowed aging might be
independent of changes in mTORC1-related signaling. This work demonstrated the importance of proteostasis
in slowed aging and how assessing kinetic processes over time can give unique insight into clinically relevant
animal models. Currently, in Dr. Zhen Yan’s laboratory, I am investigating how exercise regulates autophagyrelated signaling to promote mitochondrial quality and how mitochondrial quality is adversely affected by
obesity. My goal is to better understand the mechanisms regulating mitochondrial quality and how those
findings can be applied to the development of therapies for metabolic disorders and the promotion of healthy
aging.
B. Positions and Honors
BEGINNING ENDING
ACTIVITY/
DATE
DATE
OCCUPATION
(mm/yy)
(mm/yy) FIELD
Trainer/Coach
01/07
01/12
Clinical Assistant
08/08
12/08
Research
Assistantship
Graduate
Teaching/Research
Assistantship
08/08
05/10
08/10
5/14
Cycling
SUPERVISOR/
INSTITUTION/COMPANY EMPLOYER
Carmichael Training
Jason Koop
Systems
Exercise
West Virginia University
Diana Gilleland,
Physiology
School of Medicine
MBA
Human Performance Lab
Exercise
West Virginia University David L. Williamson
Physiology
School of Medicine
Ph.D.
Human
Colorado State University Benjamin F Miller
Bioenergetics
Health and Exercise
Ph.D. & Karyn L.
Science Department
Hamilton Ph.D.
Outstanding Master of Science Thesis Track Student in Exercise Physiology, West Virginia University, 2010
University Programs for Research and Scholarly Excellence Fellowship, Colorado State University, 2010-2011
Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Centers Consortium (MMPC) Scholarship, 6th Annual NIDDK/MMPC Course on
Isotope Tracers in Metabolic Research, March 11-15, 2013, Little Rock, AR
Robert M. Byrd Cardiovascular Research Center Training Grant Post-Doctoral Fellowship, University of
Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 2014-present
Memberships in Professional Societies:
American College of Sports Medicine
American Physiological Society
Teaching Experience
HES332F
HES403
HES405
HES476
Techniques of teaching weight training
Physiology of exercise lab
Exercise testing instrumentation
Exercise and chronic disease
2 semesters
1 semester
1 semester
6 semesters TA, 1 semester as section instructor
Mentoring experience:
Lauren Benninger DO student
Molly Watkins
PT student
Sarah Erhlicher MS student
Robert Musci
MS student
Brian Oliver
BS student
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
C. Publications (in chronological order)
Drake, J.C., Alway, S.E., Hollander, J.M., Williamson, D.L. 2010. AICAR normalizes obesity-induced
dysregulation of TORC1 signaling and translational capacity in fasted skeletal muscle. Am J Physiol Regul
Integr Comp Physiol. 299: R1546-R1554.
Drake, J.C., Benninger, L., Williamson, D.L. 2011. 8-weeks of β-GPA treatment reduces body mass while
positively altering translation initiation in obese skeletal muscle. J Obes Weig los Ther. 1: e101.
Miller, B.F., Robinson M.M., Reuland, D.J., Drake, J.C., Peelor F.F., Bruss, M.D., Hellerstein, M.K., Hamilton,
K.L. 2013. Calorie restriction does not increase short-term or long-term protein synthesis. J Gerontol A Biol
Sci Med Sci. 68: 530-538.
Drake, J.C., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Watkins, M.K., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L., Miller, B.F. 2013.
Assessment of mitochondrial biogenesis and mTORC1 signaling during chronic rapamycin feeding in male and
female mice. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 68: 1493-501.
Reviews (in chronological order)
Williamson, D.L., Drake, J.C. 2011. Normalizing a hyperactive mTOR initiates muscle growth during obesity.
Aging (Albany NY). 3, 83-84.
Published Abstracts (in chronological order)
Williamson, D.L., Drake, J.C. AICAR treatment alters skeletal muscle mass regulatory processes in OB/OB
mice. Abstract for poster presentation, 14th International Conference Biochemistry of Exercise, Guelph, ON,
Canada. May 2009.
Drake, J.C., Benninger, L., Alway, S.E., Williamson, D.L. Long term AMPK activation limits obesity induced
muscle atrophy. Abstract for poster presentation, Rocky Mountain American College of Sports Medicine,
Regional Conference, Fort Collins, CO. February 2011.
Drake, J.C., Benninger, L., Alway, S.E., Williamson, D.L. Long term AMPK activation limits obesity induced
muscle atrophy. Abstract for poster presentation, National American College of Sports Medicine Conference,
Denver, CO. May 2011
Drake, J.C., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L., Miller, B.F. Chronic rapamycin
administration maintains mitochondrial protein synthesis in heart and skeletal muscle. Abstract for poster
presentation, Cell and Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Symposium, Fort Collins, CO. February, 2012.
Drake, J.C., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L., Miller, B.F. Chronic rapamycin
administration maintains mitochondrial protein synthesis in heart and skeletal muscle. Abstract for poster
presentation, Experimental Biology, APS, San Diego, CA. April 2012. FASEB J March 29, 2012 26:1075.4
Reuland, D.J., Biela, L.M., Peelor, F.F., Drake, J.C., Miller, B.F., Hamilton, K.L. Upregulation of endogenous
antioxidant defenses by Nrf2 activation does not blunt exercise-induced mitochondrial biogenesis in rats.
Abstract for poster presentation, Experimental Biology, APS, San Diego, CA. April 2012. FASEB J March 29,
2012 26:1142.27.
Drake, J.C., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L., Miller, B.F. Maintained mitochondrial protein
synthesis in hearts of Snell dwarf mice. Abstract for poster presentation, Integrative Biology of Exercise,
Westminster, CO. October 2012.
Reuland, D.J., Drake, J.C., Khademi, S., Miller, B.F., & Hamilton, K.L. Treatment of cultured myotubes with
rapamycin activates AMP-activated protein kinase. Presented at Integrative Biology of Exercise, Westminster,
CO. October 2012.
Drake, J.C., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L., Miller, B.F. Assessment of protein synthesis
and cellular proliferation in long-lived crowded litter mice. Abstract for poster presentation, Cell and Molecular
Biology Interdepartmental Symposium, Fort Collins, CO. February 2013.
Drake, J.C., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L., Miller, B.F. Assessment of protein synthesis
and cellular proliferation in long-lived crowded litter mice. Abstract for poster presentation, Experimental
Biology, APS, Boston, MA. April 2013. FASEB J April 9, 2013 27:1202.25.
Reuland, D.J., Drake, J.C., Biela, L.M., Ehrlicher, S.E., Peelor, F.F, Miller, R.A., Miller, B.F., Hamilton, K.L.
Nrf-2 regulated antioxidant defenses in rodent models of longevity. Abstract for poster presentation,
Experimental Biology, APS, Boston, MA. April 2013. FASEB J April 9, 2013 27:712.25.
Miller, B.F., Drake, J.C., Reuland, D.J., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L. Growth versus
somatic maintenance and the synthesis of new DNA in skeletal muscle cells. Abstract for poster presentation,
San Antonio Stem Cell Conference, San Antonia, TX. October 2013.
Hamilton, K.L., Drake, J.C., Reuland, D.J., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Miller, R.A., Miller, B.F. DNA synthesis in
cardiact tissue: Growth and somatic maintenance in long lived models. Abstract for poster presentation, San
Antonio Stem Cell Conference, San Antonia, TX. October 2013.
Miller, B.F., Drake, J.C., Peelor, F.F., Biela, L.M., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L. Protein synthesis and cellular
proliferation in models of slowed aging. Abstract for poster presentation, Gerontological Society of America,
New Orleans, LA. Novermber 2013.
Drake, J.C., Bruns, D.J., Miller, R.A., Hamilton, K.L., Miller, B.F. Chronic rapamycin treatment decreases
markers of autophagy and mitophagy in a sex specific manner. Abstract for poster presentation, Experimental
Biology, APS, San Diego, CA. April 2014.
D. Completed Research Support
2013-2014 ACSM Foundation Doctoral Student Research Grant $5000.00
Role: Principle Investigator
Title: Sex and tissue differences with chronic rapamycin induction of autophagy and mitophagy