Small molecule restores muscle strength, boosts endurance in old mice, study finds

A single protein is a master regulator of mouse muscle function during aging, a Stanford study finds. Blocking this protein increased muscle strength and endurance in old animals. It may play a role in age-related muscle weakening in humans.

Increased tissue stiffness triggers contractile dysfunction and telomere shortening in dystrophic cardiomyocytes published in Stem Cell Reports

The paper explores the role of tissue stiffness and telomere length in cardiomyocytes of Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

Markov et al. published in PNAS

This study highlights AP-1 as a previously unrecognized potent dual gatekeeper of the somatic cell state.

Will Wang speaks in Spatial Multiomics Webinar Series: Enriching Spatial Proteomic Data with Parallel CITE-seq Analysis Elucidates Multiomic Changes with Aging

Will Wang discusses the use of CODEX spatial proteomic data in parallel with CITE-seq data to study tissue regeneration and aging.

Helen Blau and Sarah Heilshorn awarded 2020 Keck Foundation Medical Research Award

Helen Blau and Sarah Heilshorn were jointly awarded a 2020 Keck Foundation Medical Research Award for their proposal Dynamic Biomaterials to Probe the Role of Tissue Stiffening in Proliferation-Independent Telomere Dysfunction.

Will Wang awarded K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award

Congratulations to Blau postdoctoral fellow Yu Xin "Will" Wang on being awarded a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke for his proposal Spatial Regulators of Skeletal Muscle Regeneration and Disease.

Blau lab receives grant from the Spinal Muscular Atrophy Foundation and the Stanford Innovative Medicines Accelerator

In this project, jointly funded by the SMA Foundation and the Stanford IMA, the Blau lab will test their hypothesis that 15-PGDH inhibition will synergize with an available therapy that restores SMN expression to increase neuromuscular junctions and improve muscle function.

Congratulations to Meenakshi Ravichandran on her SNSF Fellowship

Postdoctoral Fellow Meenakshi Ravichandran was awarded a Postdoc.Mobility Fellowship from the Swiss National Science Foundation. Her research project proposes to test if boosting PGE2 levels can stimulate muscle growth in the diaphragm.