Gregorevic laboratory: Muscle Research and Therapeutics
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Head of Laboratory
Professor Paul Gregorevic+61 3 9035 7700
Research Overview
View Professor Paul Gregorevic's latest PubMed publications listing here
Skeletal muscle is important for sustained health throughout a persons lifespan, yet we easily take for granted its role in our health and lifestyle. It accounts for almost half of our body mass, and as such even a moderate decline in muscle strength caused by aging, extended bed rest, injury or a sedentary lifestyle can dramatically increase the incidence and severity of many serious medical conditions.
The goal of the Muscle Research and Therapeutics Laboratory is to understand the cellular mechanisms that regulate muscle growth, muscle wasting, and muscle metabolism so that we can develop new methods aimed at preventing or treating the symptoms of muscle-related conditions.
Our research places a particular emphasis on employing recombinant viral vectors, designed and manufactured "in-house", as a means to selectively alter gene expression in mouse models of human disease states. We also perform a range of analyses using a host of established and cutting-edge techniques spanning the disciplines of biological/biomedical science. By employing the advantages of gene delivery technologies in this way, we can interrogate the cellular mechanisms controlling muscle adaptation in vivo with a combination of speed, precision, and efficacy not attained using other approaches.
Staff
Professor Paul Gregorevic, Head of Laboratory
Dr Craig Goodman, Research Fellow
Dr Hongwei Qian, Research Fellow
Dr Rachel Thomson, Senior Research Assistant
Students
Alastair Saunders, PhD
Chris Karagiannis, PhD
Wayne Du, PhD
Lauren James, Masters
Sam Carroll, Masters
Funding
Research Opportunities
Research projects placements are offered for Honours, Master of Biomedical Science, and PhD students. Please refer to Research Projects on the top right side of this page and contact the Research Group Leader to discuss your options.
Research Outcomes
The research team has over 15 years experience in the design and application of recombinant viral vectors as tools for gene delivery. Vector manufacture is undertaken in-house using purpose configured viral vector facilities. These reagents have helped researchers to study gene manipulation in musculature at the whole muscle/animal scale with precision, speed and affordability not matched by other methods. Vectors made in-house have also been adapted for study in other tissues including cardiac and smooth muscle, the vasculature, adipose tissue, and hepatic, pancreatic, renal, and reproductive systems.
Researchers are encouraged to contact the team if seeking assistance to develop customised recombinant viral vectors for their own research.