The focus of my current research is the role of muscle satellite cells (stem cells) during growth and disease conditions. Severe muscle atrophy occurs during diseases such as cancer, diabetes and chronic heart failure, resulting in muscle weakness and poor patient prognosis. During this time, satellite cells are activated but muscle regeneration is inhibited, although this process is poorly understood. My lab seeks to understand the mechanisms by which satellite cells are activated yet their regenerative capacity is suppressed during this time. In vitro and in vivo models are used to study these changes.
