Grant: Undergraduate: Summer Studentship Award - Institute Community Support

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic muscular disease characterized by the lack of dystrophin protein, resulting in skeletal muscle debilitation and ultimately death. To date, no successful therapies exist to cure DMD. Our group discovered that Wnt7a, a secreted protein, represents a mechanism for skeletal muscle regeneration. Local muscle injection of Wnt7a into dystrophic mice restores muscle function by stimulating muscle regeneration. However, given its hydrophobic nature, Wnt7a cannot be delivered systemically. Our goal is to overcome this limitation by testing the suitability of exosomes as a vector for systemic delivery of Wnt7a.