The proper coupling of neurons, skeletal muscle fibers and intracellular filamentous contractile proteins is essential for voluntary movements of the human body.
Skeletal muscle research focuses on studying the biology, function and adaptations of skeletal muscle. Researchers investigate various components of skeletal muscle, including its structure, contractile properties, metabolism and response to exercise or physical activity. They aim to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that govern muscle growth, repair and regeneration. Additionally, skeletal muscle research explores the role of muscle in health and disease, such as age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), muscle disorders (dystrophy), and metabolic conditions (obesity, diabetes). Findings contribute to strategies for improving exercise techniques and treating muscle-related disorders.
PCOM faculty and students are engaged in research that defines the mechanisms regulating skeletal muscle formation and contraction. Other studies focus on the effects of inherited genetic abnormalities and mechanical ventilation that lead to muscle weakness and atrophy, with the goal of developing compensatory approaches to treat myopathies.
PCOM medical student David Garcia-Castro (DO/PhD '23) defended his doctoral research dissertation on potential therapeutics for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA or Kennedy's Disease).
PCOM Georgia PT students Allison Pickron and Jocilyn Yarnell discuss their research into the iliocapsularis, a variant hip flexor muscle found only in some people.
Working with Temple University faculty, Arielle Roberts (DO '21) studied methods to restore neural pathways for bladder muscle function following spinal cord injuries.
PCOM Associate Professor Heather Montie, PhD, Landed an NIH grant to gain understanding of rare genetic disorders of the spinal cord through zebrafish models.
Montie and Garcia Castro find increasing the SIRT3 protein and inhibiting PARPs improves the motor endurance of mice modeling SBMA.
PCOM aims to develop innovative approaches to promoting health through basic, translational, clinical, behavioral, education and community research projects.
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