Baylor College of Medicine · BiologyCooper Myology Lab
Thomas A Cooper · Houston, Texas
Research Focus
Dr. Thomas A. Cooper's lab at Baylor College of Medicine studies myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), a serious muscle disorder that leads to progressive weakening of skeletal muscles. The lab focuses on understanding how specific genetic mutations disrupt normal muscle function and contribute to the disease. By exploring the roles of certain RNA-binding proteins in muscle development and their connection to the disease, the lab aims to uncover potential therapeutic targets to help manage or treat DM1.
myotonic dystrophyskeletal muscle pathogenesisRNA-binding proteinsalternative splicingCELF1MBNLmuscle atrophygenetic mutationtransgenic mice
Research Aims
4AIM 01Determine the molecular mechanisms behind CELF1 upregulation in skeletal muscle diseases.
AIM 02Explore the effects of MBNL loss of function on muscle health.
AIM 03Investigate the role of CUGexp RNA in muscle pathogenesis.
AIM 04Analyze alternative splicing transitions during muscle development.
Skills the Lab Values
genetic manipulationmouse modelsRNA sequencingalternative splicing analysisimmunohistochemistrycell cultureWestern blottingmolecular cloningbioinformatics
Output against the department
Publications155top 44% of dept.452nd of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations19ktop 21% of dept.213th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
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