CALCIUM SIGNALING PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
We are investigating the pathophysiological functions of cellular calcium signaling mechanisms. Importantly, calcium signaling regulates numerous physiological processes that are highly relevant to military health, including injury response and tissue repair, muscle performance, and cardiac health.
It was recently discovered that suppression of a specific calcium signaling pathway known as store operated calcium entry results in dilated cardiomyopathy and severely compromised cardiac output. Our ongoing investigations in this area will help elucidate the complex mechanisms by which calcium regulates cardiac physiology.
Our work is supported by a CMPH II Award. An MCB graduate student in this lab, was recently awarded a poster prize at the annual meeting of the DC-MD-VA Chapter of the American Physiological Society.