Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Satellite stem cells are a specialized group of muscle cells that are capable of regenerating muscle tissue following injury. Understanding the biology regulating this regenerative capacity is therefore critical for the development of stem-cell based therapies for degenerative muscular disorders such as Muscular Dystrophy. The Rudnicki lab previously utilized a genetic approach to identify an important protein known as Wnt7a that can stimulate muscle growth when applied to cultured muscle cells. The goal of my research project is to create a genetic mouse model that has elevated levels of Wnt7a in muscle tissues to determine the effect of this protein in a living organism. These mice will then be bred to another mouse model for muscular dystrophy. I will investigate the effect of Wnt7a on muscle stem cell function, muscle fiber growth, and motor function and behavior in these mice. The expected outcome of this research is that Wnt7a will improve muscle regeneration and motor function in mice modeling muscular dystrophy, making this protein a potential regenerative therapy for muscular dystrophy and other disorders marked by muscle wasting and degeneration.