Michigan State University's College of Human Medicine has hired rehabilitation scientist Kirby Mayer to study why ICU survivors lose muscle, mobility and independence long after leaving the hospital.
Mayer joined the college as associate professor with tenure and research director of critical illness recovery in the Department of Medicine, according to an Aug. 7 announcement from the college.
The appointment spans three institutions. Mayer holds the same research director title at the Corewell Health Frederik Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute in Grand Rapids, making him the first person in that role. He also serves as associate director of restorative health research at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation, which operates a 40-bed inpatient unit on the sixth floor of UM Health-Sparrow at 1215 E. Michigan Ave. in Lansing.
Interim Dean Supratik Rayamajhi described the hire as a first-of-its-kind multi-institutional collaboration in West Michigan in a July 31 newsletter previewing the appointment.
What the research targets
Mayer's lab has found that patients who survive critical illness experience significant muscle fiber-type shifts, persistent mitochondrial dysfunction and altered gene expression suggestive of accelerated aging. His work also uses neuroimaging to document cerebral atrophy and disrupted brain networks in ICU survivors.
The research connects those cellular findings to outcomes patients and families can see: whether someone can walk, live independently, return to work or drive again.
At Corewell Health, Mayer will collaborate with pulmonary and critical care specialists to launch clinical trials for patients recovering from life-threatening illness. At Mary Free Bed's Lansing location, his team will focus on helping patients regain mobility and independence after serious injury or illness.
The role is new.
Mayer said in the announcement that he is "working to build diverse, data-savvy translational teams capable of bridging cellular biology, clinical science, and computational analytics."
Background
Before coming to MSU, Mayer served as associate vice chair for clinical research in the University of Kentucky's Department of Internal Medicine, where he led efforts to reduce regulatory barriers and expand research access for physicians. He holds a bachelor's degree in human nutrition, a Doctor of Physical Therapy and a PhD in rehabilitation sciences, all from Kentucky.
His future plans include expanding multi-site studies, using machine learning for predictive modeling and testing targeted mitochondrial and lifestyle interventions to build personalized recovery pathways for ICU survivors.
