Michelle Harrison is a Research Assistant Professor and Director of the Health & Integrative Physiology (HIP) Laboratory, a shared biochemistry lab housed within the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education. Michelle manages and supervises graduate student, biochemistry-related research activities in the shared laboratory and she also pursues her own research interests. Michelle received her B.S. in Medical Laboratory Science from the University of British Columbia in Canada and then worked in a clinical laboratory setting for a number of years as a Medical Laboratory Technologist. A personal interest in exercise and health motivated her to return to graduate school so she pursued her M.S. and Ph.D. in Exercise Science here at the University of Texas at Austin. Michelles global research interests revolve around investigations into the underlying causes of diseases with an inflammatory component. Her graduate work focused on cardiovascular disease and vascular function in at-risk populations including African Americans along with obese and older individuals. Her current emphasis is on investigating biomarkers that are predictive of the prognosis and/or progression of disease, with a specific focus on diabetes in both humans and animal models.
Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2014
M.S. in Exercise Physiology, The University of Texas at Austin, 2010
B.S. in Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2004
Investigates biomarkers that are predictive of diseases with an underlying inflammatory component.
Member, American Heart Association(2020 - Present)
Reviewer, Graduate Women in Science National Fellowship Program, (2020)
Member, Graduate Women in Science(2018 - Present)
Member, Committee on Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity, (2018)
Community Outreach Volunteer Speaker, 'Living a Heart Healthy Lifestyle' educational seminar, Women's Health Conference(2016)
Faculty Coach, Jeopardy-style Undergraduate Academic Competition, Texas chapter of ACSM(2015 - Present)
Community Outreach Volunteer Speaker, 'Physical Activity and Nutrition for Healthy Aging' educational seminars, Meals on Wheels and More, Congregate Meal Program(2013)
Science Fair Judge, High school and elementary school science fair projects, (2012 - 2018)
Member, American Physiological Society(2010 - Present)
Member, Texas Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine(2010 - Present)
Member, American College of Sports Medicine(2009 - Present)
Harrison, ML., Wolfe, AS., Fordyce, J., Rock, J., Garcia, AA. & Zuniga, JA. (2019). The additive effect of type 2 diabetes on fibrinogen, von Willebrand factor, tryptophan and threonine in people living with HIV. Amino Acids, 51(5), 783–793. doi:10.1007/s00726-019-02715-4.
Grotle, AK., Garcia, EA., Harrison, ML., Huo, Y., Crawford, CK., Ybarbo, KM. & Stone, AJ. (2019). Exaggerated mechanoreflex in early-stage type 1 diabetic rats: role of Piezo channels. American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative an Comparative Physiology, 316(5), R417–R426. doi:10.1152/ajpregu.00294.2018.
Grotle, AK., Crawford, CK., Huo, Y., Ybarbo, KM., Harrison, ML., Graham, J., Stanhope, KL., Havel, PJ., Fadel, PJ. & Stone, AJ. (2019). Exaggerated cardiovascular responses to muscle contraction and tendon stretch in UCD type-2 diabetes mellitus rats. American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology, 317(2), H479–H486. doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00229.2019.
Zuniga, JA., Harrison, ML., Henneghan, AM., Garcia, AA. & Kesler, SR. (2019). Biomarkers panels can predict fatigue, depression and pain in persons living with HIV: A pilot study. Applied Nursing Research, 151224.
Henneghan, AM., Palesh, O., Harrison, ML. & Kesler, SR. (2018). Identifying cytokine predictors of cognitive functioning in breast cancer survivors up to 10 years post chemotherapy using machine learning. Journal of Neuroimmunology, 320, 38–47. (View)
Temporal effects of inflammation on the autonomic control of circulation during exercise in type 2 diabetic rats
The primary focus of this project is to investigate the role of inflammation in neural control of the circulation during exercise in a type 2 diabetic rat model. As a secondary branch, the role of inflammation in the development of peripheral neuropathy is also being studied in the same animal model. The overall goal is to identify biomarkers and/or biomarker patterns that predict the exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise and/or the development of peripheral neuropathy since these both accompany the progression of diabetes and affect quality of life.
Improving Cognition in Breast Cancer Survivors using Meditation: A Pilot Study
This pilot study is being undertaken to explore the feasibility of a meditation intervention to ameliorate the mild cognitive impairment that persists following chemotherapy in a high percentage of breast cancer survivors. The role of inflammation in meditation-related benefits is also being investigated.
Investigating Biomarkers in Persons with Dual Diagnoses of HIV and Diabetes
The primary goal of this pilot study is to investigate changes in inflammatory cytokine profiles in people living with HIV who develop type 2 diabetes as a co-morbid condition. An additional aim of the study is to look at the relation of these same cytokines to clinical symptoms.
| Year | Semester | Course |
|---|
| 2017 | Summer | KIN f424K: Applied Human Anatomy |
| 2017 | Spring | KIN 424K: Applied Human Anatomy |
| 2016 | Fall | KIN 424K: Applied Human Anatomy |
| 2016 | Summer | KIN f324K: Applied Human Anatomy |
| 2016 | Spring | KIN 324K: Applied Human Anatomy |
| 2015 | Fall | KIN 324K: Applied Human Anatomy |
| 2015 | Spring | KIN 322: Diagnosis And Eval Of Fitness |
| 2014 | Fall | KIN 322: Diagnosis And Eval Of Fitness |
Health and Integrative Physiology Lab
The Heath & Integrative Physiology (HIP) laboratory is a shared biochemistry lab housed within the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education.
