PhD defence: Unravelling fiber type-specific adaptations associated with training-induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy

Lukas Moesgaard

About the thesis

Skeletal muscle is a remarkably plastic tissue that upon sufficient mechanical loading, such as by resistance training, adapts by increasing the size of individual muscle fibers. This process is known as muscle fiber hypertrophy, and ultimately leads to improved strength, physical function, metabolic health, and longevity. Heterogeneous in nature, skeletal muscle is composed of different fiber types that not only differ in contractile and metabolic properties, but also how they adapt to training-induced hypertrophic stimuli. However, the underlying adaptations that accompany and determine this fiber type-specific hypertrophic response remain unclear.

This PhD project aimed to elucidate fiber type-specific adaptations to training and identify drivers of training-induced fiber type-specific hypertrophy. This was done by conducting three studies investigating fiber type differences in human skeletal muscle and fiber type-specific responses to training.

2026, pages 181.

Time

27 March 2026, 14:00

Place

Auditorium 1, August Krogh Building, Universitetsparken 13, DK-2100 Copenhagen

Assessment Committee

Associate Professor Anne Yaël Nossent (Chair), Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Adam Philip Sharples, Professor, Department of Physical Performance, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Norway.

Kristian Vissing, Associate Professor, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark.

Supervisor

Associate Professor Morten Hostrup, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Co-supervisor

Professor Jens Bangsbo, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sports, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Copy of thesis

Ask for a copy of the thesis here: lm@nexs.ku.dk