Pharmacology & Physiology
Research
Project 1: Mitochondria and Calcium Signaling in Skeletal Muscle.
Mitochondria are one of the major organelles in muscle. Beyond a fundamental role in energy metabolism,mitocondria also play key roles in the maintenance of the cellular redox potential, Ca2+ homeostasis, initiation of cell death, etc. This project is designed to gain new information about the mitochondrial control of Ca2+ and redox signaling in skeletal muscle under physiological and pathophysiological conditions.
Project 2: Cellular Mechanisms of Cardiac Dystrophy.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) represents a severe inherited disease of striated muscle. It is caused by a mutation of the dystrophin gene and characterized by a progressive loss of muscle function. Most DMD patients develop a cardiomyopathy resulting in dilated hypertrophy and heart failure. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the development of cardiac dystrophy are investigated in this project.