Grant: CIHR Fellowship

A thorough understanding of stem cell biology is key to the success of regenerative medicine, a medical field dedicated to regenerating tissues and organs damaged by disease, injury or aging. The unique power of stem cells lies in their ability to replicate and generate identical copies of themselves, as well as being able to generate specialized cells that contributes to tissue and organ growth throughout the human body. Various types of adult stem cells are found in specific tissues in the body where they serve to repair and maintain the tissues in which they reside. In Dr. Michael Rudnicki's lab, my research focuses on a population of adult stem cells found in skeletal muscle. Our long-term goal is to understand the underlying biology of muscle stem cells in order to exploit their regenerative potential for the treatment of muscle-degeneration diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy. There is currently no cure for these debilitating and life-threatening diseases, which cause progressive weakening and eventual degeneration of skeletal muscle. Muscle stem cells are, therefore, ideal candidates for cell transplantation therapy in order to restore muscle regeneration in patients with muscular dystrophy.