Education

• Postdoctoral training, Biology of aging, University of Southern California, 2022
• Postdoctoral training, Sports genetics, Juntendo University, Japan, 2019
• PhD, Health and sports sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan, 2016
• MS, Health and sports sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan, 2014
• BS, Physical education, Chiba University, Japan, 2012

Research

• Mitochondrial-derived microproteins
• Aging-induced skeletal muscle disorders
• Exercise and sports genetics

Overview

Hiroshi Kumagai, Ph.D., is a Research Assistant Professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. He received scientific training in exercise physiology, sports genetics, and biology fields. His previous works focused on 1) the effect of lifestyle modification on cardiovascular function in people with obesity, and 2) genetics in athletes. His current research interest is aging-induced skeletal muscle disorders and he tries to identify microproteins that regulate skeletal muscle functions. He studies mitochondrial DNA-derived microprotein called MOTS-c and tries to understand the underlying mechanism of how an East-Asian specific genetic variant on the MOTS-c cording region increases type 2 diabetes risk. He is also interested in identifying novel microproteins regulating muscle function and understanding the roles of skeletal muscle in systemic aging and diseases.