Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of both men and women among all
racial groups.Cardiac Muscle
Our laboratory explores mechanisms that alter cardiac muscle function. More specifically, we are interested in mechanisms that alter calcium homeostasis which, acutely, may lead to arrhythmias and alteration of cardiac muscle contractility. More chronic alterations in calcium can lead to gene expression changes which form the basis for cardiac hypertrophy, remodeling, and heart failure. We are interested in endocrine/paracrine agents such as thromboxane A2 which may directly induce calcium signals in cardiac myocytes via membrane receptors. We are also interested in calcium changes induced by intracellular phosphoinositide signaling. Another area that our laboratory is interested in is the mechanism by which fibrate drugs may alter cardiac muscle function. Finally, our laboratory with the Muscle Biology Research Group works with the Bone Biology Center in exploring mechanisms that are involved in bone-muscle crosstalk as well as cardiovascular calcification.
Laboratory Members
Post-doctoral Researcher: Chad Touchberry, Ph.D.
Research Technician: Ian Bales
Medical Students: Stephanie Schaller, Krushangi Patel, Mani Javvaji, Omer Mirza, Seo Hyun Kim