Welcome to the Thomson Muscle Lab
Our Research Focus
Skeletal muscle is an incredibly adaptable tissue that allows us to move and respond to physical and metabolic challenges. When we are young, muscles adapt efficiently to the stresses placed on them and can repair themselves effectively when injured. With aging, however, these processes gradually decline. This leads to sarcopenia—the age-related loss of muscle mass and function—which is a major contributor to frailty, reduced mobility, and loss of independence in older adults. Similar muscle loss also occurs in diseases such as cancer and diabetes.
Our lab is focused on understanding why muscle function declines with age and how we can slow, prevent, or even reverse these changes. We aim to uncover the biological mechanisms that drive sarcopenia and use this knowledge to develop strategies that help maintain strength and physical function later in life.
Specifically, we:
1) Study the biological causes of muscle loss and weakness during aging
2) Develop new approaches to improve muscle function and resilience in older adults
A major focus of our research is a pathway involving two proteins, AMPK and LKB1, which act as key regulators of energy use and muscle health. We are investigating how this pathway changes with age and how activating it can improve muscle function. Our work includes developing new compounds targeting the LKB1-AMPK system and identifying additional pathways that may work alongside it to promote healthier aging.
Dr. David Thomson
Cell Biology and Physiology Associate Professor
Email: david_thomson@byu.edu
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3013 LSB
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-8709