Research focuses on investigating the interactions of drugs, molecules and diseases with skeletal muscle from a perspective of characterizing and understanding the mechanisms responsible for tissue damage and/or pain.

There are three types of projects that are being investigated in the laboratory. In one area, we have been investigating the mechanisms of tissue damage and/or pain associated with components in parenteral formulations. This work is conducted using a variety of experimental techniques ranging from cell culture to isolated tissues to whole animal studies. In related studies, we have been involved with the development of in situ formulations that cause minimal tissue damage and can provide long-term drug delivery. A second area is focusing on elucidating the mechanisms responsible for pain upon injection. The overall goal is to investigate the link between tissue damage with pain upon injection and to develop excipients or drugs that minimize or eliminate pain or tissue damage upon injection.

We have now investigating the role of myostatin in muscle wasting conditions. A second major focus is to investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for alcoholic myopathy. Alcoholic myopathy and/or cardiomyopathy is known to occur in 1/3 to 2/3 of those who ingest alcohol on a chronic basis. An understanding of these mechanisms can be used as a basis to develop therapeutic approaches to minimize these toxic effects in cardiac or skeletal muscle. We are also investigating the mechanisms associated with increased susceptibility to muscle and cardiac damage and decreased muscle performance associated with reduced estrogen levels seen in young women, post-menopausal women and in aging. These studies have shown beneficial effects of estrogen, but the mechanisms, either a membrane or receptor mediated, are not clearly elucidated. Alcoholic myopathy and the potential beneficial effects of estrogen on muscle are investigated using our available animal models. In more recent studies, we have been investigating the role myostatin may play as a mediator for muscle growth and/or wasting.