The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UT Southwestern) was awarded a $439,791 Project Grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) under the Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.846). The grant will support research to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying myoblast fusion, a critical process for skeletal muscle development and regeneration. The 5-year project aims to elucidate how the actin cytoskeleton is rapidly remodeled to drive invasive membrane protrusions that facilitate cell-cell fusion, as well as the role of mechanosensory signals in regulating this process. The research utilizes a multidisciplinary approach spanning genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, and biochemistry to provide a deeper mechanistic understanding of myoblast fusion, which could inform the development of new therapeutic strategies for congenital myopathies and other muscle diseases.
Generated 3/18/25, 4:03 AM