Marta Mirecka

Marta Mirecka

Email: mm6212@hallam.shu.ac.uk
Research Centre: BMRC
PhD Thesis Title: Muscle, myokines and exercise modulation; As a potential mechanism for testosterone-induced cardioprotection
Director of Studies: Daniel Kelly
Supervisors: Caroline Dalton, Nick Peake

SUMMARY

Marta obtained a BSc in Human Biology from the University of Worcester and an MSc in Neuropharmacology from Nottingham Trent University. After working in the industry on biomarkers of depression and anxiety, she decided to follow her passion for sports and cardiovascular sciences by pursuing a PhD in Sheffield.

RESEARCH

My research focuses on the interplay between exercise, muscle activity, and myokines, with a specific focus on testosterone-induced cardioprotection. It explores how different forms of physical activity, including strength and cardiovascular training, influence muscle tissue to release signaling molecules known as myokines. These myokines are known to possess beneficial effects on various organs.

However, not much research elucidates their exact effect on the cardiovascular system. Since different types of exercises trigger different myokine profiles, it’s of my interest to determine the exact myokine profile characteristic of cardio and strength training regimes and investigate further their cardioprotective properties with and without testosterone.

The levels of this androgen hormone are known to decline naturally with age, which has been linked to cardiovascular incidents in men. Therefore, another part of my research explores testosterone therapy in cardiac rehabilitation