Our lab has 3 major interests:

1. Eluicating mechanisms by which exercise training improves cardiac myocyte function after myocardial infarction, with focus on excitation-contraction coupling. Techniques used include single cell contractility and calcium measurements, patch-clamp, adenovirus-mediated gene transfer, in vivo gene delivery and culture of adult cardiac myocytes.
2. Mechanisms by which phospholemman, a member of the FXYD family of small transmembrane proteins regulating ion transport, affect cardiac contractility. Molecular biology and biophysical techniques are used. A phospholemman knockout mouse is also used.
3. In collaboration with Dr. Barbara Miller, we investigate role of calcium channels in signal transduction of erythropoietin. Techniques include molecular biology, digital video imaging and patch-clamp. Specific TRP channel knockout mice are utilized.