Head – Paul Gregorevic
Using gene transfer technology to study muscle diseases
Skeletal muscle accounts for almost half a person’s body mass, yet we easily take for granted its role in our health and lifestyle. The reality is that physical frailty caused by a loss of strength is the primary cause of death among a significant proportion of the elderly population, and patients with a host of medical conditions. Even a moderate decline in muscle strength caused by advancing age, bed rest or inactive lifestyle can dramatically increase the incidence and severity of many serious medical conditions.
In this lab, the goal is to understand the cellular mechanisms that regulate muscle growth and wasting, so that we can develop new methods of preventing or treating the symptoms of muscle-related diseases. The work we do also has implications for improving the health of that other important muscle – the heart!
The research places a particular emphasis on employing recombinant viral vectors designed and manufactured “in-house” as a means to selectively alter gene expression in mouse models, and analyses using a host of established and cutting-edge techniques spanning the disciplines of biological/biomedical science. This approach allows us to interrogate the cellular mechanisms controlling muscle adaptation in vivo with previously unattained precision.