Lucas Orssatto

Dr Lucas Orssatto is a Research Fellow at The University of Queensland's School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences and Centre for Sensorimotor Performance. His research investigates how the nervous system controls muscles and human movement, and how changes in these processes contribute to muscle weakness and movement impairments associated with ageing and disease.

His research spans two complementary streams:

Basic science: Motor control and neurophysiology: Investigating how the brain, spinal cord and motor neurones regulate muscle activity, force production and movement. His research uses advanced experimental techniques to understand the neural mechanisms underlying human motor behaviour.

Clinical science: Neuromotor control in ageing and disease: Investigating how changes in nervous system function contribute to muscle weakness, impaired motor control and physical disability, particularly in older adults and people living with sarcopenia or motor neurone disease (MND/ALS). This research aims to improve our understanding of these conditions and inform better approaches to assessing neuromotor function.

His research has been published in leading international journals, including The Lancet Healthy Longevity, Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia, and Muscle, The Journal of Neurophysiology, and The Journal of Physiology.