Directory » AARON MORTON
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Aaron Morton
Assistant Professor
Kinesiology and Sport Management
Curriculum Vitae
Aaron B. Morton, Ph.D., investigates regeneration of skeletal muscle and indwelling neurovascular tissues following conditions of injury and disease as well as investigating the emerging field of inorganic biomaterials for soft tissue applications. In particular, Dr. Morton is interested in the interactions of Schwann cells and endothelial cells during muscle regeneration and the biochemical/biophysical cues from inorganic borophosphate materials as applied to soft tissue regeneration. Dr. Morton is currently the director of the Soft Tissue Regeneration and Applied Biomaterials (STRAB) Laboratory at Texas A&M University.
Education
Ph.D., Exercise Physiology, University of Florida (2018)
M.S., Exercise Science, University of West Florida (2013)
B.S., Exercise Science, Harding University (2010)
PATENTS
Morton, AB., Nghiem, PP., Kendra, JA., Reacted Matrix (RM) for Dispersion of Stem Cells (covers original biomaterial development and ability to disperse stem cells in animals, permitting implantation and incorporation). U.S. Provisional Patent (No. 63/754,943) filed 2/6/2025 by the Texas A&M University System.
Morton, AB., Segal, SS., Brow, RK., Semon, J., Biomaterial Compositions and Methods of Treatment (covers original biomaterial development and treatment methods for a variety of muscle injuries and diseases) U.S. Full Patent (No. 63/260,858) filed 9/1/22
RESEARCH SUPPORT
GRANTS AWARDED Effects of Reprieve on Terminal Schwann Cells. Jan. 2026-Dec. 2026 TAMU Advancing Discovery to Market Morton (PI) 2023-2025 Effectiveness and Toxicology of Dystrophix in a Large Animal Model of Muscle Dystrophy Total Direct Costs: $495,972 Role: Principal Investigator NIH Loan Repayment Award for Pediatric Research Morton (PI) 2020-2022 Mechanisms of Neurovascular Crosstalk in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration APS Postdoctoral Fellowship Morton (PI) 2019-2020 Mechanisms of Neurovascular Crosstalk in Skeletal Muscle Regeneration Total Costs: $50,000 Role: Principal Investigator Coulter Biomedical Accelerator Segal (PI) 2021-2023 Timed-Release Ion Matrix for Treatment of Muscular Dystrophy Total Costs: $99,987 Role: Grant Author and Designated Project Leader
SERVICE
Reviewing Activity: eCells & Materials Connective Tissue Research Bosnian Journal of Basic Medical Science Biology Neural Regeneration Research Journal of Critical Care Research and Practice Royal Society Open Science Frontiers in Physiology American Journal of Physiology – Heart Microcirculation Annals of Palliative Medicine Departmental Service: Graduate Student Space Committee Spring 2023 Graduate Scholarship Awards Committee Spring 2023 Judge: Texas Junior Academy of Science Spring 2023 Poster Judge: Texas Junior Academy of Science Fall 2022 Cardiovascular Research Day 2020 planning committee member
COURSES TAUGHT
KINE427. Therapeutic Principles
Therapeutic Principles. (3-0). Credit 3. Examination of human tissue types, characteristics, and physiology pertaining to injury, pain transmission, and the healing process; study of common therapeutic modalities such as ultrasound and electricity with emphasis on physiological mechanisms of effect.
Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Fall 2023
KINE433. Exercise Physiology
This course provides an introduction to the physiology of exercise. It builds on the student’s knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, and describes the acute effects of exercise and the influence of chronic exercise training on the various functional systems in different populations and under different environmental conditions. In addition, the importance of exercise to health and wellness will be considered from a physiological perspective.
Spring 2023
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Highlighed Publications
Tiper Y, Xie Z, Hofemeier A, Lad H, Luber M, Krawetz R, Betz T, Zimmermann WH, Morton AB, Segal SS, Gilbert PM. Optimizing electrical field stimulation parameters reveals the maximum contractile function of human skeletal muscle microtissues. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2025 Apr 1;328(4):C1160-C1176. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00308.2024. Epub 2025 Feb 28. PMID: 40019026; PMCID: PMC12310163.
Morton AB, Jacobsen NL, Diller AR, Kendra JA, Golpasandi S, Cornelison DDW, Segal SS. Inducible deletion of endothelial cell Efnb2 delays capillary regeneration and attenuates myofibre reinnervation following myotoxin injury in mice. J Physiol. 2024 Oct;602(19):4907-4927. doi: 10.1113/JP285402. Epub 2024 Aug 28. PMID: 39196901; PMCID: PMC11466691.
Jacobsen NL, Morton AB, Segal SS. Angiogenesis precedes myogenesis during regeneration following biopsy injury of skeletal muscle. Skelet Muscle. 2023 Feb 14;13(1):3. doi: 10.1186/s13395-023-00313-3. PMID: 36788624; PMCID: PMC9926536.
Morton, Aaron B et al. “Functionalizing biomaterials to promote neurovascular regeneration following skeletal muscle injury.” American journal of physiology. Cell physiology vol. 320,6 (2021): C1099-C1111. doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00501.2020
Morton AB, Norton CE, Jacobsen NL, Fernando CA, Cornelison DDW, Segal SS. Barium chloride injures myofibers through calcium-induced proteolysis with fragmentation of motor nerves and microvessels. Skelet Muscle. 2019 Nov 6;9(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s13395-019-0213-2. PMID: 31694693; PMCID: PMC6833148.
Books and Monographs
Sollanek KJ, Smuder AJ, Wiggs MP, Morton AB, Koch LG, Britton SL, Powers SK. Role of intrinsic aerobic capacity and ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015 Apr 1;118(7):849-57. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00797.2014. Epub 2015 Jan 8. PMID: 25571991; PMCID: PMC4385883.
Journal Articles
Jacobsen NL, Nguyen MA, Morton AB, Cornelison D, Segal SS. Satellite Cell Ablation Limits Myofiber Regeneration but Not Angiogenesis Following Skeletal Muscle Injury. Microcirculation. 2025 Oct;32(7):e70024. doi: 10.1111/micc.70024. PMID: 40946334.
Kendra JA, Naman AG, Blatt RL, Jones-Hall Y, Zingariello CD, Brow RK, Segal SS, Morton AB. Time Release Ion Matrix Regenerates Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2025 Mar 20:rs.3.rs-5968078. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5968078/v1. PMID: 40166018; PMCID: PMC11957216.
Rahimi MR, Morton AB, Golpasandi H, Salih SH. Short-term CoQ10 supplementation reduces markers of cardiac stress in soccer players following heavy exercise: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2025 Dec 9. doi: 10.1186/s13102-025-01456-0. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41361495.
Tiper Y, Xie Z, Hofemeier A, Lad H, Luber M, Krawetz R, Betz T, Zimmermann WH, Morton AB, Segal SS, Gilbert PM. Optimizing electrical field stimulation parameters reveals the maximum contractile function of human skeletal muscle microtissues. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 2025 Apr 1;328(4):C1160-C1176. doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00308.2024. Epub 2025 Feb 28. PMID: 40019026.
Ryan PJ, Uranga S, Stanelle ST, Lewis MH, O'Reilly CL, Cardin JM, Deaver JW, Morton AB, Fluckey JD. The autophagy inhibitor NSC185058 suppresses mTORC1-mediated protein anabolism in cultured skeletal muscle. Sci Rep. 2024 Apr 6;14(1):8094. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-58716-1. PMID: 38582781; PMCID: PMC10998866.
Hall SE, Ahn B, Smuder AJ, Morton AB, Hinkley JM, Wiggs MP, Sollanek KJ, Hyatt H, Powers SK. Comparative Efficacy of Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers Against Ventilator-Induced Diaphragm Dysfunction in Rats. Clin Transl Sci. 2021 Mar;14(2):481-486. doi: 10.1111/cts.12916. Epub 2020 Nov 22. PMID: 33222389; PMCID: PMC7993256.
Ichinoseki-Sekine N, Smuder AJ, Morton AB, Hinkley JM, Mor Huertas A, Powers SK. Hydrogen sulfide donor protects against mechanical ventilation-induced atrophy and contractile dysfunction in the rat diaphragm. Clin Transl Sci. 2021 Nov;14(6):2139-2145. doi: 10.1111/cts.13081. Epub 2021 Jun 16. PMID: 34080307; PMCID: PMC8604213.
Huertas AM, Morton AB, Hinkey JM, Ichinoseki-Sekine N, Smuder AJ. Modification of Neuromuscular Junction Protein Expression by Exercise and Doxorubicin. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2020 Jul;52(7):1477-1484. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002286. PMID: 31985575; PMCID: PMC7901802.
Smuder AJ, Turner SM, Schuster CM, Morton AB, Hinkley JM, Fuller DD. Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment Following Mid-Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Preserves Diaphragm Muscle Function. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Sep 30;21(19):7219. doi: 10.3390/ijms21197219. PMID: 33007822; PMCID: PMC7582297.
Hinkley JM, Morton AB, Ichinoseki-Sekine N, Huertas AM, Smuder AJ. Exercise Training Prevents Doxorubicin-induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction of the Liver. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019 Jun;51(6):1106-1115. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000001887. PMID: 30629044; PMCID: PMC6522307.
Morton, Aaron B., et al. "Mitochondrial accumulation of doxorubicin in cardiac and diaphragm muscle following exercise preconditioning." Mitochondrion 45 (2019): 52-62.
Morton AB, Smuder AJ, Wiggs MP, Hall SE, Ahn B, Hinkley JM, Ichinoseki-Sekine N, Huertas AM, Ozdemir M, Yoshihara T, Wawrzyniak NR, Powers SK. Increased SOD2 in the diaphragm contributes to exercise-induced protection against ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. Redox Biol. 2019 Jan;20:402-413. doi: 10.1016/j.redox.2018.10.005. Epub 2018 Oct 21. PMID: 30414534; PMCID: PMC6226598.
Smuder AJ, Morton AB, Hall SE, Wiggs MP, Ahn B, Wawrzyniak NR, Sollanek KJ, Min K, Kwon OS, Nelson WB, Powers SK. Effects of exercise preconditioning and HSP72 on diaphragm muscle function during mechanical ventilation. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2019 Aug;10(4):767-781. doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12427. Epub 2019 Apr 10. PMID: 30972953; PMCID: PMC6711411.
Powers SK, Morton AB, Hyatt H, Hinkley MJ. The Renin-Angiotensin System and Skeletal Muscle. Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2018 Oct;46(4):205-214. doi: 10.1249/JES.0000000000000158. PMID: 30001274; PMCID: PMC6673677.
Kavazis AN, Morton AB, Hall SE, Smuder AJ. Effects of doxorubicin on cardiac muscle subsarcolemmal and intermyofibrillar mitochondria. Mitochondrion. 2017 May;34:9-19. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2016.10.008. Epub 2016 Nov 8. PMID: 27832997; PMCID: PMC5422146.
Sollanek KJ, Burniston JG, Kavazis AN, Morton AB, Wiggs MP, Ahn B, Smuder AJ, Powers SK. Global Proteome Changes in the Rat Diaphragm Induced by Endurance Exercise Training. PLoS One. 2017 Jan 30;12(1):e0171007. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0171007. PMID: 28135290; PMCID: PMC5279855.
Hyatt HW, Smuder AJ, Sollanek KJ, Morton AB, Roberts MD, Kavazis AN. Comparative changes in antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress in cardiac, fast twitch and slow twitch skeletal muscles following endurance exercise training. Int J Physiol Pathophysiol Pharmacol. 2016 Dec 25;8(4):160-168. PMID: 28078055; PMCID: PMC5209445.
Powers SK, Morton AB, Ahn B, Smuder AJ. Redox control of skeletal muscle atrophy. Free Radic Biol Med. 2016 Sep;98:208-217. doi: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2016.02.021. Epub 2016 Feb 18. PMID: 26912035; PMCID: PMC5006677.
Smuder AJ, Gonzalez-Rothi EJ, Kwon OS, Morton AB, Sollanek KJ, Powers SK, Fuller DD. Cervical spinal cord injury exacerbates ventilator-induced diaphragm dysfunction. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2016 Jan 15;120(2):166-77. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00488.2015. Epub 2015 Oct 15. PMID: 26472866; PMCID: PMC4719055.
Holland AM, Hyatt HW, Smuder AJ, Sollanek KJ, Morton AB, Roberts MD, Kavazis AN. Influence of endurance exercise training on antioxidant enzymes, tight junction proteins, and inflammatory markers in the rat ileum. BMC Res Notes. 2015 Sep 30;8:514. doi: 10.1186/s13104-015-1500-6. PMID: 26423686; PMCID: PMC4589170.
Kwon OS, Smuder AJ, Wiggs MP, Hall SE, Sollanek KJ, Morton AB, Talbert EE, Toklu HZ, Tumer N, Powers SK. AT1 receptor blocker losartan protects against mechanical ventilation-induced diaphragmatic dysfunction. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2015 Nov 15;119(10):1033-41. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00237.2015. Epub 2015 Sep 10. PMID: 26359481; PMCID: PMC4816409.
Turley K, Eusse PA, Thomas MM, Townsend JR, Morton AB. Effects of different doses of caffeine on anaerobic exercise in boys. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2015 Feb;27(1):50-6. doi: 10.1123/pes.2014-0032. PMID: 25051124.
Turley KR, Rivas JD, Townsend JR, Morton AB, Kosarek JW, Cullum MG. Effects of caffeine on anaerobic exercise in boys. Pediatr Exerc Sci. 2012 May;24(2):210-9. doi: 10.1123/pes.24.2.210. PMID: 22728413.
Conference Presentations
Timed Release Ion Matrix Enhances Muscle Force in Dystrophic Mice. (2023) J Kendra, R Brow, S Segal, A Morton Physiology 38 (S1), 5733472
Inducible deletion of endothelial cell EfnB2 attenuates neuromuscular regeneration in mouse skeletal muscle. (2023) A Morton, N Jacobsen, A Diller, DD Cornelison, S Segal
Physiology 38 (S1), 5730060
Morton, Aaron B., et al. "Which Comes First: Angiogenesis or Myogenesis Following Punch Biopsy Injury?." FASEB journal: official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology 36 (2022).
Tiper, Y., et al. "Optimization Of The Electrical Stimulation Parameters For Micro-muscles Engineered From Human Primary Myoblasts." TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A. Vol. 28. 140 HUGUENOT STREET, 3RD FL, NEW ROCHELLE, NY 10801 USA: MARY ANN LIEBERT, INC, 2022.
AWARDS
National Institutes of Health LRP Award from NIAMS 2025-2026
Microcirculatory Society Pappenheimer Postdoctoral Travel Award 2022
Health Science Research Day Basic Science poster award winner 2021
American Physiological Society IPE best poster award winner 2020
Cardiovascular Day poster award winner 2020
University of Missouri Provost’s Scholar Award 2019-2020