Current Projects and Grants | Skeletal Muscle Plasticity and Regeneration Laboratory

Regenerative rehabilitation following volumetric muscle loss injury

Timeframe: 2016 - current

Funding Sources: Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research and Training; Department of Defense; National Institutes of Health

Project description: Collaborative projects awarded with Dr. Jarrod Call at the University of Georgia, investigating various regenerative rehabilitation approaches to improve the function and quality of the remaining muscle after injury.

Related Publications:

Restricted physical activity after volumetric muscle loss alters whole-body and local muscle metabolism
- Translational Perspective
- Journal Club
Early initiation of electrical stimulation paired with range of motion after a volumetric muscle loss injury does not benefit muscle function
Independent of physical activity, volumetric muscle loss injury in a murine model impairs whole-body metabolism

Neurogenic pathophysiologic consequences following aging and injury

Timeframe: 2018 - current

Funding Sources: Department of Defense; National Institutes of Health

Project description: Projects are investigating the shared pathophysiology and neuromuscular consequences of volumetric muscle loss injuries and aging. Research will explore how targeting neurotrophic signaling (between the motor neurons and muscle fibers) could be a therapeutic option to preserve and promote functional regeneration and reinnervation.

Related Publications:

Mechanistic understanding of the local cellular environment and fibrotic response following traumatic muscle injury

Timeframe: 2018 - current

Project description: Projects are investigating how long-term functional limitations are confounded by pathologic fibrotic deposition, which has been shown to impede muscle healing and regeneration, alter the microenvironment of the muscle, and causes destruction of muscle architecture.

Related Publications:

Evaluation of novel regenerative medicine approaches to improve muscle function

Timeframe: 2019 - current

Funding Sources: Department of Defense

Project description: Collaborative projects awarded with Dr. Mary Garry from the University of Minnesota Medical School. Our work investigates novel regenerative medicine approaches to improve skeletal muscle function and quality of life for those with traumatic muscle injuries.

Related Publications:

Evaluation of skeletal muscle properties in individuals with cerebral palsy

Timeframe: 2021 - current

Funding Sources: Gillette Children’s Hospital; American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine

Project description: Collaborative projects awarded with Dr. Liz Boyer from Gillette Children’s Specialty Health-care. The objective is to longitudinally evaluate changes in muscle tissue for those with cerebral palsy prior to and following clinical tone interventions, to help inform clinical intervention decisions.

Related Publications:

Medial gastrocnemius muscle properties of children with cerebral palsy after different tone treatments - a pilot study