Dr Luke Baker

I joined the University of Leicester in 2018 as part of the Leicester Kidney Lifestyle Team (LKLT) and have subsequently moved over to the Leicester Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) to support cross theme research around muscle biology in those with long-term conditions. My research centres around understanding the mechanisms which contribute to muscle loss and dysfunction in those with multiple long term conditions (MLTCs), with a particular focus on how the onset and resolution of inflammation contributes to the endotypes noted in patient populations. I use a translational 'bench-to-bedside' approach in order to uncover therapeutic targets and develop subsequent interventions for patient benefit.

My research interests are in line with the below themes:

• Disease induced skeletal muscle loss & dysfunction
• Mechanisms of resolution physiology (production & function)
• Patient specific cellular modelling
• Biological definitions of skeletal muscle presentation
• Biomarkers of disease progression

Patient populations of interest:

• Multiple long term conditions (MLTCs)
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
• Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM)

Baker, L. A., March, D. S., Wilkinson, T. J., Billany, R. E., Bishop, N. C., Castle, E. M., ... & Burton, J. O. (2022). Clinical practice guideline exercise and lifestyle in chronic kidney disease. BMC nephrology, 23(1), 1-36.

Wilkinson, T. J., Yates, T., Baker, L. A., Zaccardi, F., & Smith, A. C. (2022). Sarcopenic obesity and the risk of hospitalization or death from coronavirus disease 2019: findings from UK Biobank. JCSM rapid communications, 5(1), 3-9.

Baker, L. A., O'Sullivan, T. F., Robinson, K. A., Graham‐Brown, M. P., Major, R. W., Ashford, R. U., ... & Watson, E. L. (2021). Primary skeletal muscle cells from chronic kidney disease patients retain hallmarks of cachexia in vitro. Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle.

Watson, E. L., Baker, L. A., Wilkinson, T. J., Gould, D. W., Xenophontos, S., Graham-Brown, M., ... & Smith, A. C. (2021). Inflammation and physical dysfunction: responses to moderate intensity exercise in chronic kidney disease. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.

Wilkinson, T. J., Miksza, J., Yates, T., Lightfoot, C. J., Baker, L. A., Watson, E. L., ... & Smith, A. C. (2021). Association of sarcopenia with mortality and end‐stage renal disease in those with chronic kidney disease: a UK Biobank study. Journal of cachexia, sarcopenia and muscle, 12(3), 586-598.

Watson, E. L., Baker, L. A., Wilkinson, T. J., Gould, D. W., Graham‐Brown, M. P., Major, R. W., ... & Smith, A. C. (2020). Reductions in skeletal muscle mitochondrial mass are not restored following exercise training in patients with chronic kidney disease. The FASEB Journal, 34(1), 1755-1767.

Capel, A. J., Rimington, R. P., Fleming, J. W., Player, D. J., Baker, L. A., Turner, M. C., ... & Lewis, M. P. (2019). Scalable 3D printed molds for human tissue engineered skeletal muscle. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology, 7, 20.

Baker, L. A., Martin, N. R., Kimber, M. C., Pritchard, G. J., Lindley, M. R., & Lewis, M. P. (2018). Resolvin E1 (RvE1) attenuates LPS induced inflammation and subsequent atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 119(7), 6094-6103.

In line with my research interests I supervise laboratory based PhD, iMSc, MSc and BSc projects from a range of course offered at UoL.

Current Students:

• Cian Sutcliffe (IPH) - Biological link between SGLT2i's and skeletal muscle health
• Jasmine Foster (RS) - Understanding the role of resolution physiology in sarcopenia in the context of MLTCs
• Beth Swallow (MIBTP-BBSRC) - Developing a model of the healthy tendon

Dr Baker contributes teaching to the following modules:

BS1060 - Multicellular organisation: An introduction to physiology, pharmacology & neurosciences

BS2014 - Exercise physiology & pharmacology