David Thomson

Research Interests

Healthy skeletal muscles are incredibly dynamic organs that are capable of adapting to a wide range of mechanical and metabolic stressors. For instance, repetitive loading leads to muscle growth, or hypertrophy, while disuse results in a loss of muscle size or atrophy. Like most tissues in the body, skeletal muscle is also capable of repairing itself after a damaging injury. Unfortunately, these growth and repair processes often become short-circuited in old age and other muscle-wasting conditions such as cancer cachexia.

My lab seeks to:
1) Understand the biological basis of muscle-wasting in aging, cancer, and metabolic diseases such as diabetes
2) Discover therapeutic approaches for improving muscle size and function in these diseases

AMP-activated protein kinase is a molecular switch that is critical in maintaining healthy skeletal muscle metabolism and function. We are currently focusing on developing a novel AMPK-activating drug to improve muscle function in aging, cachexia, and other muscle-wasting conditions. We are also interested in identifying other targets that may prove helpful in these disorders.

Courses Taught

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Publications

Chase M Walton Samuel M Jacobsen Blake W Dallon Erin R Saito Shantelle L H Bennett Lance E Davidson David M Thomson Robert D Hyldahl Benjamin T Bikman A D Mackay E D Marchant D J Munk Richard Kent Watt Jason Merrell Hansen David Morley Thomson Chad R Hancock David Morley Thomson B A Parker C M Walton S T Carr J L Andrus Cheung ECK M J Duplisea E K Wilson C Draney D R Lathen K B Kenner David Morley Thomson Jeffery S Tessem Benjamin Thomas Bikman Shalene E Hardman Derrick E Hall Alyssa J Cabrera Chad R Hancock David Morley Thomson Bradley S Henriksen Mary E Curtis Natasha Fillmore Brandon R Cardon David Morley Thomson Chad R Hancock K. C. Jackson L. M. Wohlers R. M. Lovering R. A. Schuh A. C. Maher A. Bonen T. R. Koves O. Ilkayeva David Morley Thomson D. M. Muoio E. E. Spangenburg J. F. Merrill David Morley Thomson S. E. Hardman S. D. Hepworth S. Willie Chad R Hancock Bruce C Frier Chad R Hancock Jonathan P Little Natasha Fillmore Tyler A Bliss David Morley Thomson Zhongxiao Wan David C Wright J D Brown Chad R Hancock A D Mongillo B J Barton R A Digiovanni Allen Clive Parcell William W Winder David Morley Thomson David Morley Thomson Chad R Hancock B G Evanson S G Kenney B B Mallan A D Mongillo J D Brown S Hepworth N Fillmore Allen Clive Parcell David Lee Kooyman William W Winder

Presentations