Delivering new hope to patients worldwide
At the Washington Center for Muscle Biology (WCMB), scientists seek new treatments for muscle disease, help Washington biotechnology leaders translate research discoveries into life-changing remedies and prepare future scientists to continue the quest.
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Highlights:
WCMB receives a grant from the Muscular Dystrophy Association! This grant will establish a new exercise physiology phenotyping core and will help develop novel drugs and therapeutics for pre-clinical trials using rodent models. Best of all, use of the facility will be FREE for all WCMB members! Please contact the director for more information and more importantly, please support the MDA for the many wonderful things they do, which now includes supporting the WCMB!
Calcium, it’s good for your bones AND muscles, in fact it’s crucial. Muscle cannot contract without calcium. This is true for all types of muscle including skeletal and cardiac muscle. But how does muscle store and release this vital mineral? Try asking Dr. ChulHee Kang. In the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, his research group reported the 3-dimensional structure of a calcium binding protein, calsequestrin, and identified key structural elements that, in essence, turn it “on” or “off”. Controlling the movement and availability of muscle calcium is central to our understanding of muscle biology. It’s also critically important to the regeneration of damaged muscle, which highlights the importance of this exciting work.
Will a “lonely heart” grow? Well, not as well as one with neighbors. In the journal Circulation Research, Dr. Charles Murry and his research group describe how the tissue engineering of cardiac muscle works best when the developing muscle is grown in the presence of endothelial cells, the cells that make blood vessels. They also determined that adding mechanical load (i.e. exercise) further enhances growth. Thus, lonely and lazy hearts don’t grow, at least not as well as those with friends and that exercise. This protocol for transforming stem cells into mature cardiac muscle is revolutionizing the field of tissue regeneration. It is also helping to develop novel treatments for patients recovering from heart attacks.
Thanks to our sponsors.
The generosity of private individuals and corporations provides the fuel for new discoveries. Their support is a necessity in today’s funding climate and is greatly appreciated. If you would like to support the WCMB or partner with our scientists, please contact the director or visit our I WANT TO GIVE page. Links to corporate sponsorship are in development.