Skeletal Muscle Research 
Development, Function and Disease

Skeletal muscle research focuses on mechanisms that regulate muscle formation in the embryo, structure/function relationships, degeneration and regeneration. Researchers also investigate the impact of nutrition, hormones and exercise on muscle size and strength. New therapies are developed and tested for curing or slowing the progression of genetic disorders that directly affect muscle (muscular dystrophy, metabolic myopathies), neuromuscular disorders (spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy, myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis) and age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia), among others.

PCOM researchers study the effects of inherited mutations leading to spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy and interventions that may reduce the progression of muscle weakness. Other researchers focus on skeletal muscle-like cells called myofibroblasts whose contractions facilitate wound closure, but in the eye, may distort tissue architecture and affect vision. A third area of research involves testing a nutritional supplement for building muscle strength.