Elaina Marinak, PhD, ACSM-PT, CBDT
- Focus area(s): Nutrition and exercise interventions examining weight control, diabetes risk, and cardiovascular outcomes
Education
Ph.D., Clinical Physiology and Metabolism, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2012
B.S., Exercise Science, Lake Superior State University, 2003
Experience
2015 — present: Clinical Research Coordinator, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
2011 — 2014: Project Director, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA
2004 — 2005: Project Manager, Department of Physical Therapy, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA
2003 — 2004: Research Assistant, Georgia Prevention Institute, Augusta, GA
Program Focus
I currently coordinate and supervise 6 clinical intervention research studies funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Institute on Aging (NIA). One study (R21) is examining the effect of ultra-processed foods on food intake and reward processing in young adults. Two studies (R21) are related to the impact of non-nutritive sweeteners on glycemic markers in middle-aged adults. Two studies (R21) are related to ultra-processed food consumption and the effect on gut microbiota, glucose homeostasis, and vascular health in middle-aged adults. The most recent study (R01) will examine how water intake influences weight control in older adults.
Oral Presentations
- Howard K, Prado-Novoa O, Laskaridou E, Reid G, Marinik E, Speakman J, Davy K. Does exercise make us more sedentary? Insight from ultra-endurance runners. Thematic abstract presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, CO. May 31-June 2, 2023.
- Sanchez A, Reynolds J, Marinik E, Davy B, Hunter G, Larson-Meyer DE. Modest caloric surplus combined with resistance training leads to healthy weight gain in athletic individuals. Thematic abstract presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, CO. May 31-June 2, 2023.
- Sanchez A, Reynolds J, Marinik E, Davy B, Hunter G, Larson-Meyer DE. Exploring the role of peanuts in enhancing healthy weight gain in athletic individuals. Presented at the International Sport and Exercise Nutrition Conference, Manchester, UK. Dec 18-20, 2022.
Poster Presentations
- Prado-Novóa O, Zorrilla-Revilla G, Howard K, Laskaridou E, Reid G, Marinik E, Davy K. When physical activity is not the reason: exploring great male variability in resting metabolic rate from an evolutionary perspective. Abstract submitted for the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution annual meeting, Aarhus, Denmark. Sept 21-23, 2023.
- Zorrilla-Revilla G, Prado-Novóa O, Howard K, Laskaridou E, Reid G, Marinik E, Davy K. What make you run more; makes you walk worse? Body size, aerobic capacity, and walking activity during Homo evolution. Abstract submitted for the European Society for the Study of Human Evolution annual meeting, Aarhus, Denmark. Sept 21-23, 2023.
- Marinik E, Sanchez A, Reynolds J, Hunter G, Davy B, Larson-Meyer DE. Change in walking economy after resistance training with weight gain in young adult athletes. Abstract presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, CO. May 31-June 2, 2023.
- Dotson J, Reynolds J, Sanchez A, Marinik E, Dotson J, Hunter G, Larson-Meyer DE, Davy B. Repetitions in reserve in research: Analyzing the relationship of strength and loading choices. Abstract presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, CO. May 31-June 2, 2023.
- Prado-Novoa O, Howard K, Laskaridou E, Reid G, Marinik E, Speakman J, Davy K. Validation of classic and new predictive equations to estimate the RMR across different activity levels. Abstract presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, CO. May 31-June 2, 2023.
- Reynolds J, Sanchez A, Marinik E, Dotson J, Hunter G, Larson-Meyer DE, Davy B. The mGAINS trial: Exploring the feasibility and utility of continuous glucose monitoring during resistance training. Abstract presented at the American College of Sports Medicine annual meeting, Denver, CO. May 31-June 2, 2023.