Rodrigo Fernandez-Gonzalo

I am an Associate Professor (Docent) in Physiology and Principal Researcher at the Division of Clinical Physiology.

I lead the Space & Environmental Physiology research group.

A significant part of my projects is conducted at the Human Physiology Lab (Humanlab).

My research focuses on understanding how skeletal muscle mass and function are regulated under different conditions and situations, and how this tissue interacts with other physiological systems of the human body. In recent years, I have focused on studying the effects of unloading, severe inactivity and microgravity on the musculoskeletal system and how this tissue interacts with other physiological systems of the human body.

In my studies, I use a wide range of methods to analyze functional, metabolic, morphological, molecular and neural adaptations to short- or long-term muscle disuse (e.g. microgravity), aging, acute and chronic exercise, disease (e.g. cerebral palsy) and athletic performance. I use clinical studies in humans, experiments in mice, and cellular models to gain a comprehensive picture of the physiological processes underlying the regulation and interaction of the musculoskeletal and other organ systems.

My general competence area is human physiology, with particular expertise in skeletal muscle physiology.

Since 2018, I have been the course responsible (kursansvarig) for anatomy and physiology (distance learning) within the bachelor’s degree programme in nursing at Karolinska Institutet.

Since 2023, I have been the course responsible for Advanced Human Physiology Research as part of the Master's programme in Translational Physiology and Pharmacology, at Karolinska Institutet.

Since 2026, I am the examiner in the course Quality Assurance Applied to Clinical Research (doctoral education).

I am also involved in teaching activities in space and environmental physiology in Sweden and abroad.

Supervision to doctoral degree

• Mats Lilja, Effects of anti-inflammatory drugs on human skeletal muscle adaptations to resistance training, 2023