David W. McMillan, Ph.D.
Physiology, Climate Health, Science Communication, & Participatory Research
Biography
I am a "full-stack" academician at the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine where I serve as Research Assistant Professor, Department of Neurological Surgery, and the Director of Education and Outreach at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. I conduct research by, with, and for people who have paralysis due to spinal cord injury (SCI). I consider myself a domain-general researcher specializing in a topic not an approach.
Along with my specific work on the neurological control of metabolism, at a systems level I am committed to cultivating reciprocity throughout SCI research. I practice this participatory research in some of my studies, and help others to do so in theirs. To do so I co-founded and co-chair a "SCI Council" where council members with SCI provide researchers with advise on their studies at any point in the research cycle.
Outside of academia I am a daily bicycle commuter, a keen purveyor of many forms of adaptive outdoor recreation, a scuba diver and adaptive dive buddy, and a Board Member and Co-Chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee for Therapeutic Scuba Institute, Inc.
Affiliation
Education
M.A. in Journalism, ongoing (proj. 2023)
University of Miami
1° Mentor(s): Mr. Samuel A. Terilli, Esq.
2° Mentor(s): Mr. Trevor Green
Main Project: My project has yet to be determined, but tentatively will pertain to the development of a "science communication" curriculum for a course, and eventually (🤞) a degree track, to be taught through UM's School of Communication.
Ph.D. in Exercise Physiology, 2020
University of Miami
1° Mentor(s): Dr. Kevin A. Jacobs & Dr. Mark S. Nash
2° Mentor(s): Dr. James L.J. Bilzon
Main Project: My three-part doctoral dissertation began with inquiries into the effect of exercise on postabsorptive and then postprandial macronutrient handling/utilization, and concluded with a study examining the effect of neurological damage on the absorption and transport of dietary lipids.
M.S. in Exercise Science, 2015
California State University, Los Angeles
1° Mentor(s): Dr. Christine J. Dy
2° Mentor(s): Dr. Ray De Leon
Main Project: My master's thesis was on the topic of "interappendicular neurological coupling", determining the role of arm-swinging during locomotor rehabilitation on patterns of muscle activity from paralyzed legs during assisted walking.
B.S. in Exercise Science, 2013
California State University, San Marcos
1° Mentor(s): Dr. Todd A. Astorino
2° Mentor(s): Dr. Jeff A. Nessler
Main Project: My bachelor's thesis pertained to the effect of rest interval on excess post-exercise oxygen consumption after resistance exercise, and then I instigated a study determining the effect of self-pacing on peak physiological response to cycling exercise.
Scientific Interests & Project
Metabolism
Neurological control of the transport, utilization, and storage of macronutrients
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Experiments
Effect of SCI on dietary fat metabolism with and without pre-meal exercise (Registered Clinical Trial NCT03691532) (Conference: 1, 2; Article: 1)
Impact of exercise mode and intensity on dietary metabolism in persons with paraplegia (Registered Clinical Trial NCT03545867) (Conference: 1, 2 ; Article: 1, 2, 3)
Metabolism during recovery from circuit resistance exercise in persons with SCI (Conference: 1, 2, 3; Article: 1)
Metabolic economy of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling in persons with SCI (Conference: 1, 2)
Cardiopulmonary physiology during self-paced maximal exercise in college men (Conference: 1; Article: 1)
Metabolic adaptations to periodized high intensity interval training (HIIT) in sedentary women (Article: 1, 2, 3)
Thoughts
Pending
Diagnosis and management of cardiometabolic disease in people with spinal cord injury
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Experiments
Spinal Cord Injury Exercise and Nutrition Conceptual Engagement (SCIENCE) (Registered Clinical Trial NCT03495986)
Thoughts
Using the internet to broadly deliver high intensity exercise to people with SCI: Narrative Review
Limits of treating obesity with exercise in people with SCI: Narrative Review
Energy expenditure and nutrient intake after SCI: Narrative Review and Guideline Synthesis
Physiology
Understanding and augmenting sensorimotor function in people with spinal cord injury
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Experiments
The Up-LIFT Study of Non-Invasive ARC Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury (Registered Clinical Trial NCT04697472)
Interappendicular neuromuscular coupling during body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) in persons with SCI (Conference: 1; Article: 1)
Synchronization of gait during side-by-side treadmill walking in college men and women (Article: 1)
Thoughts
Pending
Understanding and diagnosing autonomic function after spinal cord injury
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Experiments
Using galvonic skin conductance to determine the sympathetic level of injury in persons with SCI (Conference: 1)
Ishial skin blood flow during and after a bout of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycling in persons with SCI (Conference: 1)
Thoughts
Pending
Skeletal pathology within and beyond spinal cord injury
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Experiments
Bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) for bone health in persons with SCI (Conference: 1)
Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) bone working group (Conference: 1; Article: 1)
Thoughts
Obesity and skeletal pathology in people with SCI: Narrative Review
Climate Health
Resource-knowledge and preparedness-practices of people with spinal cord injury during subtropical coastal climate emergencies
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Experiments
Pending
Thoughts
Pending
Grants
Ongoing Extramural Funding
Postprandial fat metabolism following an acute exercise bout in persons with spinal cord injuries
Funder: Craig H. Neilsen Foundation (CNF) Spinal Cord Injury on the Translational Spectrum (SCIRTS)
Role: Sub-Investigator
Ongoing Intramural Funding
Using community-engaged research to launch climate change resilience from an inclusive design beachhead starting with Southeastern Floridians living with spinal cord injury (SCI)
Funder: U-LINK Resilience Challenge
Role: Principal Investigator
Concluded Funding
Sally Casanova Scholar
Funder: California Pre-Doctoral Program
Role: Fellow
Written Publications
Peer-Reviewed Scientific Papers
Stein PK, Buzkova P, Fink HA, Robbins JA, Mukamal KJ, Cauley JA, Carbone L, Elam R, McMillan DW, Valderrabano R, Barzilay JI. Cardiovascular autonomic nervous system function and hip fracture risk: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Arch Osteoporos. 2021 Oct 31;16(1):163. doi: 10.1007/s11657-021-01028-y.
Farkas GJ, Sneij A, McMillan DW, Tiozzo E, Nash MS, Gater DG. Energy Expenditure and Nutrient Intake after Spinal Cord Injury: A Comprehensive Review and Practical Recommendations. Br J Nutr. 2021 (online ahead of print). doi: 10.1017/s0007114521003822
McMillan DW, Correa MA, Astorino TA, Nash MS, Gater DR. Virtual strategies for the broad delivery of high intensity exercise in persons with spinal cord injury. Front Act Daily Living. 2021, e-pub ahead of print, 703816. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2021.703816
Astorino TA, McMillan DW. Similar fat and carbohydrate oxidation in response to arm cycling exercise in persons with spinal cord injury versus able-bodied. J Spinal Cord Med. 2021 (online ahead of print). doi: 10.1080/10790268.2021.1952385
Jacobs KA, McMillan DW, Maher JL, Bilzon JLJ, Nash MS. Neither postabsorptive resting nor postprandial fat oxidation are related to peak fat oxidation in men with chronic paraplegia. Front Nutr. 2021, e-pub ahead of print, 703652. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2021.703652
McMillan DW, Kressler J, Jacobs KA, Nash MS. Substrate metabolism during recovery from circuit resistance exercise in persons with spinal cord injury. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2021,121,1631-40. doi: 10.1007/s00421-021-04629-0
McMillan DW, Henderson GC, Nash MS, Jacobs KA. Effect of paraplegia on the time course of exogenous fatty acid incorporation into the plasma triacylglycerol pool in the postprandial state. Front Physiol. 2021,12,626003. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.626003
McMillan DW, Maher JL, Jacobs KA, Nash MS, Bilzon JLJ. Physiological responses to moderate intensity continuous and high intensity interval exercise in persons with paraplegia. Spinal Cord. 2021,59(1),26-33. doi: 10.1038/s41393-020-0520-9
McMillan DW, Maher JL, Jacobs KJ, Nash MS, Gater DR. Exercise interventions targeting obesity in persons with spinal cord injury. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2021,27(1),109-20. doi: 10.46292/sci20-00058
McMillan DW, Nash MS, Gater DR, Valderrábano RJ. Neurogenic obesity and skeletal pathology in spinal cord injury. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2021,27(1),57-67. doi: 10.46292/sci20-00035
McMillan DW, Maher JL, Jacobs KA, Mendez AJ, Nash MS, Bilzon JLJ, Effects of exercise mode on postprandial metabolism in humans with chronic paraplegia. Med Sci Sport Exerc. 2021,53(7);1495-504. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002593
McMillan DW, Maher JL, Jacobs KA, Mendez AJ, Nash MS, Bilzon JLJ. Influence of upper-body continuous, resistance or high-intensity interval training (CRIT) on postprandial responses in persons with spinal cord injury: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial. Trials. 2019,20(1),497. doi: 10.1186/s13063-019-3583-1
McMillan D, de Leon R, Guertin PA, Dy C. The Utility of Interappendicular Connections in Bipedal Locomotion. Curr Pharm Des. 2017,23(12),1734-1740. doi: 10.2174/1381612822666161216115947
Maher JL, McMillan DW, Nash MS. Exercise and Health-Related Risks of Physical Deconditioning After Spinal Cord Injury. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2017,23(3),175-187. doi: 10.1310/sci2303-175
Astorino TA, Schubert MM, Palumbo E, Stirling D, McMillan DW, Gallant R, Dewoskin R. Perceptual Changes in Response to Two Regimens of Interval Training in Sedentary Women. J Strength Cond Res. 2016,30(4),1067-76. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000001175
Astorino TA, McMillan DW, Edmunds RM, Sanchez E. Increased cardiac output elicits higher V̇O2max in response to self-paced exercise. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2015,40(3),223-9. doi: 10.1139/apnm-2014-0305
Astorino TA, Schubert MM, Palumbo E, Stirling D, McMillan DW. Effect of two doses of interval training on maximal fat oxidation in sedentary women. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2013,45(10),1878-86. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182936261
Astorino TA, Schubert MM, Palumbo E, Stirling D, McMillan DW, Cooper C, Godinez J, Martinez D, Gallant R. Magnitude and time course of changes in maximal oxygen uptake in response to distinct regimens of chronic interval training in sedentary women. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2013,113(9),2361-9. doi: 10.1007/s00421-013-2672-1
Nessler JA, McMillan D, Schoulten M, Shallow T, Stewart B, De Leone C. Side by side treadmill walking with intentionally desynchronized gait. Ann Biomed Eng. 2013,41(8),1680-91. doi: 10.1007/s10439-012-0657-6
Text Book Chapters
Maher JL, McMillan DW, Nash MS. The Cardiometabolic Syndrome in SCI: the Role of Physical Deconditioning and Evidence-based Countermeasures. In: The Physiology of Exercise in Spinal Cord Injury. 1 ed. Taylor J, editor. New York, NY: Springer Nature; 2017. Chapter 10; p.199-216.
By Lines
Coming soon 😁
Tweets
Science Stories
Visual Stories
Audio Stories
Picture Stories
Science Media Production & Organizing
American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Early Career Webinar Series
Tag: A bench to bedside view of the landscape of spinal cord injury research and medicine, through the eyes of early career professionals.
Description: The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)'s Early Career Clinician and/or Researcher (ECRC) Webinar Series is "a bench to bedside view of the landscape of spinal cord injury research and medicine, through the eyes of early career professionals." This multi-part series features episodes focusing a single topic relevant to SCI research and medicine. In each episode, a dyad of presenters will grant us a "parallax perspective" on their SCI topic of expertise: ideally one perspective being more lab-focused and one being more clinic-focused. Each presentation will be 20 min with a following 10 min Q&A. Beyond sharing the emerging work of young professionals in the SCI space, we will also: (1) identify and archive the rising stars in this space, and (2) create a community for networking together these people based on a common mission. This series was founded and is organized/produced by Anne E. Palermo, Rahul Sachdeva, and me... in part with ASIA's Early Career Committee.
American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) SCI Science Perspectives Podcast
Tag: A dialogue from two perspectives on emerging scientific literature spanning the full spectrum of spinal cord injury research, from discovery to clinical application.
Description: The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)'s SCI Science Perspectives podcast disseminates the latest-and-greatest scientific work in the field of spinal cord injury (SCI) via a conversation with researchers that approaches their work from two perspectives: the “scholarly” perspective and the “community” perspective. First, ASIA’s Committees identify new and influential scientific papers relevant to the committee’s interests. Then the podcast host(s) interview the author(s) of the papers, approaching their project from each perspective. Then, the conversation from perspective is published as its own episode type. This podcast was founded and is produced by Suzanne L. Groah, Marla A. Petriello, and me... in part with ASIA's Communication Committee.
2022 Miami Spinal Cord Injury Summit
Description: This two and a half day conference will provide clinicians, researchers, and persons with spinal cord injury with the latest updates on research and clinical advances across a variety of topics related to spinal cord injury. Thursday and Friday will offer educational lectures/discussion approved for CME and CEU credits, on topics from advances in cell-based therapies for neural repair to recreational therapy for improved quality of life. A ½ day morning expo will be held on Saturday for those with spinal cord injury to try out adaptive recreational activities, learn about spinal cord injury community resources, and tour the new Christine Lynn Rehabilitation Center for the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson. CMEs and CEUs will be available to professionals who register and attend this conference.