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James Smoliga

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Professor; Director and Research and Faculty Development, Tufts University

I am a Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Science at Tufts University School of Medicine and serve as the Director of Research and Faculty Development for the DPT Seattle program. I have a wide variety of scientific interests, and much of my expertise falls into the catch-all term of "Sports Medicine."

My initial interest in this field was rooted in my background as a competitive distance runner. My love for running led me down a path of exploring the science of how the body works (physiology) and how the body moves (biomechanics). Thus, the core of my expertise is that in preventing and treating sports injuries, and also enhancing sports performance - with an emphasis on endurance sports.

My love for science has inspired me to branch out my research beyond the sports world. I have done quite a bit of research with dietary supplements, and much of that has focused on resveratrol (the "red wine antioxidant"). This led me down the pathway of exploring how to appropriately translate dosage from animals into humans. I have gotten involved in a number of other niche areas of research, such as links between respiratory health and air pollution, as well as the science behind concussion-prevention devices.

In recent years, I have become increasingly interested in scientific communication and the spread of pseudoscience. As a scientist, I feel it is important to function not only as a producer of new research, but also as a diplomat to the public. As such, I aim to effectively and accurately communicate science to mainstream audiences. I want to share the expertise I have developed to educate others and help them make informed decisions.

I earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from Cornell University. I then transitioned into the field of human research, and earned a PhD in Sports Medicine and Nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh. I am also a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Experience

  • 2023–present
    Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine

Education

  • 2007 
    University of Pittsburgh, PhD / Sports Medicine and Nutrition
  • 2003 
    Cornell University, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

Publications

  • 2018
    Reconsidering the woodpecker model of traumatic brain injury., The Lancet
  • 2018
    Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction and the Air We Breathe., Immunology Clinics of North America
  • 2017
    Team Logo Predicts Concussion Risk: Lessons in Protecting a Vulnerable Sports Community from Misconceived, but Highly Publicized Epidemiologic Research., Epidemiology
  • 2017
    "Tighter fit" theory-physiologists explain why "higher altitude" and jugular occlusion are unlikely to reduce risks for sports concussion and brain injuries., Journal of Applied Physiology
  • 2017
    Inaccuracies: Axe science hype from social media., Nature
  • 2017
    Addiction to exercise., The BMJ
  • 2016
    Risk of Concussion for Athletes in Contact Sports at Higher Altitude vs at Sea Level: A Meta-analysis., JAMA Neurology
  • 2016
    Diagnostic Accuracy of Various Imaging Modalities for Suspected Lower Extremity Stress Fractures: Response., American Journal of Sports Medicine
  • 2016
    Exercise induced bronchoconstriction in adults: evidence based diagnosis and management., The BMJ
  • 2016
    Common causes of dyspnoea in athletes: a practical approach for diagnosis and management., Breathe
  • 2015
    Faces and fitness: attractive evolutionary relationship or ugly hypothesis?, Biology Letters
  • 2015
    Translating dosages from animal models to human clinical trials--revisiting body surface area scaling., FASEB Journal
  • 2015
    Resveratrol treatment as an adjunct to pharmacological management in type 2 diabetes mellitus--systematic review and meta-analysis., Molecular Nutrition and Food Research
  • 2014
    Development of a lozenge for oral transmucosal delivery of trans-resveratrol in humans: proof of concept., PLoS One
  • 2014
    Enhancing the delivery of resveratrol in humans: if low bioavailability is the problem, what is the solution?, Molecules
  • 2013
    Resveratrol for primary prevention of atherosclerosis: clinical trial evidence for improved gene expression in vascular endothelium., International Journal of Cardiology
  • 2013
    A healthier approach to clinical trials evaluating resveratrol for primary prevention of age‐related diseases in healthy populations., Aging
  • 2011
    Resveratrol and health--a comprehensive review of human clinical trials., Molecular Nutrition and Food Research

Professional Memberships

  • American College of Sports Medicine (Fellow)

Research Areas

  • Medical Physiology (1116)
  • Physiology (0606)
  • Biomechanics (110601)
  • Sports Medicine (110604)
  • Exercise Physiology (110602)
  • Sport And Exercise Psychology (170114)
  • Clinical Pharmacology And Therapeutics (111502)
  • Applied Statistics (010401)
  • Cardiorespiratory Medicine And Haematology (1102)
  • Veterinary Sciences (0707)
  • Human Movement And Sports Science (1106)
  • Orthopaedics (110314)