Michael Harris-Love, PT, MPT, DSc, FGSA, FAPTA
Professor, Program Director - Residential Pathway, Associate Dean of Physical Therapy Education, Executive Vice Chair of Physical Therapy, PM&R
Education and Licensure
- Georgetown University/Children's National Hospital, Post-Doctoral Fellowship, 2010
- University of Indianapolis, Doctor of Health Science, 2004
- Mayo School of Health Sciences, MS, Physical Therapy, 1997
- Northern Arizona University, BS, Exercise Science, 1995
Positions
Associate Dean, Physical Therapy Education, CU Anschutz School of Medicine
Joanne Posner-Mayer Endowed Chair in Physical Therapy
Health Scientist, Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC), VA Eastern Colorado Healthcare System
Director, Muscle Morphology, Mechanics, and Performance Laboratory
Vice Chair of Learning, Development, and Inclusion, CU Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Areas of Expertise
Geriatric Physical Therapy Muscle Disease Autoimmune DisordersTeaching Responsibilities
- DPT Program
- DPTR 7651: Capstone, Lecturer
- Rehabilitation Science PhD Program
- RHSC 7001: Rehabilitation Science Seminar, Lecturer
- Faculty Residency
- Seminar, Lecturer
- Mentoring
- PhD Students
- Katie Boncella, Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Design and Computing, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus (2024-2027), Primary Mentor
- Lauren Van Valkenburgh, PT, DPT, PhD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2023-2027), Co-Mentor
- Wesley Thornton, PhD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2022), PhD Qualifying Examination Committee
- Andrea Marshall, PhD Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine (2020-2022), Doctoral Dissertation Committee
- Mentored Awards and Post-Doctoral Fellows
- Mark Manago, PT, PhD. Veterans Administration RR&D Career Development Award (CDA-2) (2022-2027), Co-Mentor
- Stephan Bodkin, PhD, ATC. University of Colorado T32 Training Grant – Integrative Physiology of Aging (NIH/NIA) (2021-2023), Mentor
- Jared Gollie, PT, PhD. Veterans Administration RR&D Career Development Award (CDA-2) (2020-2025), Co-Mentor
- Andrew Smith, PT, PhD. CU Anschutz School of Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Research Pilot Grant (2020-2021), Co-Mentor
- Kimberly Benson, DPT. Veterans Administration Advanced Geriatric Fellowship (2018-2019), Mentor
- Donte Pennington, PhD. Georgetown-Howard University/DC VAMC TL1 Post-Doctoral Training Program in Translational Biomedical Science (NIH/NCATS) (2017-2019), Mentor
- Jared Gollie, PhD. Veterans Administration Advanced Geriatric Fellowship (2017-2019), Mentor
- Bryant Seamon, DPT, NCS. Veterans Administration Advanced Geriatric Fellowship (2014-2016), Mentor
- Haniel Hernandez, DPT. Veterans Administration Advanced Geriatric Fellowship (2013-2016), Mentor
- PhD Students
Awards
- President’s Alumni Award, Northern Arizona University (Nominee, College of Health and Human Services). 2024.
- Champion of Allied Health Award, Mayo School of Health Sciences Alumni Association. 2023.
- Catherine Worthingham Fellow of the American Physical Therapy Association. 2022.
- Gerontological Society of America Health Sciences Fellow. 2019.
- APTA Eugene Michels New Investigator Award. 2019.
- Training in Grantsmanship for Rehabilitation Research (TIGRR), National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, National Institutes of Health, Medical University of South Carolina. 2019.
- Dale Shaffer Outstanding Alumnus Award, Mayo Clinic Physical Therapy Alumni Association. 2017.
- VA Historically Black College and University Research Scientist Training Award, VA Office of Research and Development, Rehabilitation Research and Development Service (CDA-2, IK2RX001854). 2014-2019.
- Butler-Williams Scholar, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health (Inaugural Class). 2013.
- Fellowship Award, DC Clinical Research Training Consortium, Georgetown University/Children’s National Hospital, National Institutes of Health National Center for Research Resources (Grant No. 5K30RR022272). 2008-2010.
- United States Bone and Joint Decade Young Investigator Initiative Fellowship Award. 2006-2007.
- Award for Academic Excellence, Krannert School of Physical Therapy, University of Indianapolis (Doctoral Thesis Award). 2004.
- Special Act Award, Rehabilitation Medicine Department, NIH Clinical Center. 1994, 2004.
- Distinguished Alumni Award, College of Health Professions, Northern Arizona University. 1998.
- Erik J. Aasen Award, Physical Therapy Program, Mayo School of Health Sciences. 1997.
- Minorities in Medicine Scholar, Jay and Rose Phillips Foundation, Mayo Foundation. 1996-1997.
- Exercise Science Graduate of the Year, College of Health Professions, Northern Arizona University. 1995.
Research
Research Interests
Geriatrics & Chronic Conditions Musculoskeletal & OrthopedicsFunded/In Review Grant Activity
Ongoing Support
Harris-Love (PI). Associations Among Proximal Tibia Trabecular Microarchitecture and Lower Leg Muscle Quality.
Colorado Nutrition Obesity Research Center Seed Grant (NIDDK P30DK048520); 2026 ($10,000, funded). Principal Investigator: Michael O. Harris-Love, DSc, MPT. Co-Investigators: Jonathan Beausejour, PhD; Katie Boncella, MS; Julio Carballido-Gamio, PhD.
Beausejour (Trainee), Harris-Love (Mentor). Optimal Image Processing Methods to Characterize Myosteatosis and Aid the Diagnosis of Sarcopenic Obesity in Veterans.
VHA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers Advanced Fellowship in Geriatrics; 2025-2027 ($122,500, funded).
Boncella (Trainee), Harris-Love (Mentor). Knee Osteoarthritis Rehabilitation through Rotational Inertia (KORRI): Improving Stair Step Navigation Performance and Muscle Quality.
University of Colorado T32 Pre-Doctoral Training Grant, Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute (NIH/NCATS T32TR004367); 2025-2027 ($85,475, funded).
Harris-Love (PI), Addison (Co-PI). Recovery of Aged Muscle After Disuse Atrophy (REMEDY): Exercise and Monitoring with Post-Hospitalization Muscle Atrophy to Sustain Intrinsic Capacity and Strength (EMPHASIS).
VA Merit Award, BLRD and CSRD Collaborative Merit Review Award (I01CX002836); 2024-2028 ($1,200,000, awarded).
J. Gollie (PI). Objective and Subjective Measures of Fatigability in Veterans with Chronic Kidney Disease Before and After Flywheel Resistance Plus Aerobic Exercise.
VA Career Development Award (IK2RX003423); 2020-2025 ($951,625, funded). Role: Co-Mentor.
M. Harris-Love (PD). Detection of Strength Deficits During Telerehabilitation Using Low-Cost Smartphone Medical Diagnostics.
VA CARES Act, VHA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Centers; 2020-2021 ($295,000, funded). Role: Project Director.
A. Smith (PI). Machine Learning to Quantify Muscle Changes, Lean Body Mass, and Function in Obese Adults.
CU Anschutz School of Medicine PM&R Research Pilot Grant; 2020-2021 ($25,000, funded). Role: Co-Mentor/Co-Investigator.
M. Harris-Love (PI). Detection and Treatment of Sarcopenia and Myosteatosis in Older African Americans.
VA HBCU Research Scientist Training Program (IRX001854A); 2015-2020, Cost Extension 2020-2021 ($1,248,233, funded). Role: Principal Investigator.
M. Harris-Love (Co-PI). Interprofessional Polytrauma and Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Research Fellowship.
VA Office of Academic Affairs Advanced Fellowships Program (38 U.S.C. 7406); 2013-2020 ($1,596,896, funded). Role: Co-Project Director, Faculty Mentor, Grant Authorship and Curricular Development.
D. Pennington (Trainee). Determining the Association of Body Adiposity Distribution with Focal Measures of Myosteatosis in African American Men.
NIH/NCATS TL1TR001431; 2017-2019 ($97,000, funded). Role: Co-Mentor and Laboratory Co-Supervisor.
Completed Support
M. Harris-Love (PI). Mobile Muscle Health: Transdisciplinary Approaches to Screening African Americans with CKD.
PTCS Program, Georgetown-Howard Universities CTSA Consortium (UL1TR000101); 2017-2018 ($37,600, funded). Role: Principal Investigator.
M. Harris-Love (Co-PI). The QUALITY Vets Project.
VA Innovators Network Spark-Spread-Seed Award (AM-251 12-11-2015); 2016-2017 ($46,000, funded). Role: Co-Principal Investigator and Site Lead Investigator.
M. Harris-Love (PI). Creating a Model of Proactive Geriatric Care within VISN 5: Screening for Age-Related Skeletal Muscle Dysfunction at the Washington DC VA Medical Center.
VISN 5 Pilot Research Grant; 2014 ($30,000, funded). Role: Principal Investigator.
M. Harris-Love (Co-PI). Sarcopenia Screening: Development of a Feedback-Augmented, Portable, Ultrasound Prototype.
CTSI-CN Innovative Strategies and Services Voucher Award (UL1TR000075); 2014 ($10,000, funded). Role: Co-Principal Investigator.
P. Lum (PI). Extension of the MIME Robotic System for Stroke Rehabilitation.
VA Merit Award Supplemental Equipment Grant (B2056RA); 2008 ($115,000, funded). Role: Co-Investigator.
L. Rider (PI). Rituximab in the Treatment of Refractory Adult and Juvenile Dermatomyositis and Adult Polymyositis.
NIH/NIEHS Intramural Research Program (07-E-0012); 2007-2011. Role: Associate Investigator.
K. Fischbeck (PI). Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase II Clinical Trial to Determine the Safety and Efficacy of Idebenone Administered to Patients with Friedreich Ataxia.
NIH/NINDS Intramural Research Program (05-N-0245); 2005-2008. Role: Associate Investigator.
W. Gahl (PI). Pilot Study of the Use of Intravenous Immune Globulin in Hereditary Inclusion Body Myopathy.
NIH/NHGRI Intramural Research Program (05-HG-0236); 2005-2006. Role: Key Personnel.
F. Miller (PI). Studies in the Natural History and Pathogenesis of Childhood-Onset and Adult-Onset Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies.
NIH/NIEHS Intramural Research Program (94-E-0165); 2003-2010. Role: Associate Investigator.
M. Dalakas (PI). Alemtuzumab to Treat Sporadic Inclusion Body Myositis.
NIH/NINDS Intramural Research Program (04-N-0133); 2003-2007. Role: Associate Investigator.
M. Dalakas (PI). Immune Dysregulation and Inclusion Body Myositis.
NIH/NINDS Intramural Research Program (02-N-0121); 2003-2010. Role: Associate Investigator.
P. Plotz (PI). A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Infliximab in Patients with Dermatomyositis and Polymyositis.
NIH/NIAMS (02-AR-0156); 2002-2010. Role: Associate Investigator.
M. Harris-Love (PI). Pilot Protocol – Validity of the Anaerobic Endurance Test.
NIH Clinical Center (94-CC-0130B); 2001-2002. Role: Principal Investigator.
M. Harris-Love (PI). Pilot Protocol – Reliability of Isometric Fatigue Testing Using the Biodex System 2 Dynamometer.
NIH Clinical Center (94-CC-0130A); 2000-2003. Role: Principal Investigator.
L. Cohen (PI). Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Anaerobic Fatigue.
NIH/NINDS (87-N-0110); 2000-2002. Role: Associate Investigator.
P. Plotz (PI). Phase II Trial of Anti-C5 Antibody for Patients with Myositis.
NIH/NIAMS (00-AR-0117); 2000-2001. Role: Associate Investigator.
G. Chi-Fishman (PI). Ultrasound Assessment of Chronic Post-Exercise Muscle Morphology: A Pilot Study.
NIH Clinical Center (94-CC-0130); 2000.
P. Plotz (PI). Efficacy of Methimazole in Patients with Myositis.
NIH/NIAMS (95-AR-0139); 1999-2003. Role: Key Personnel.
M. Harris (Trainee), S. Lindstedt (Supervisor). The Effects of Respiratory Muscle Progressive Resistance Exercise on Ventilatory Capacity.
Arizona/NASA Space Grant; 1994-1995 ($5,000, funded). Role: Trainee.
M. Harris (Trainee), S. Lindstedt (Supervisor). Pulmonary Physiology Research Training.
National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates Grant (IBN 9317527); 1993-1994 ($5,000, funded). Role: Trainee.
Presentations
Scholarly Agenda
Dr. Harris-Love’s scholarly agenda includes the study of muscle plasticity in response to exercise-based interventions, normal aging, and chronic disease. His laboratory group is currently working to improve the recognition and use of muscle health as a geriatric “vital sign” given the influence of the skeletal muscle system on metabolic status and functional independence. This work involves the development of rapid and portable methods of assessing muscle tissue composition and mechanical properties. In addition, Dr. Harris-Love employs the use of eccentric muscle actions in exercise-based interventions for the rehabilitative management of age-related chronic conditions.