The University’s Office of the Vice President for Research has awarded Li Li Ji, Ph.D., professor and director of the School of Kinesiology, a University Grant-in-Aid of Research, Artistry, and Scholarship effective July 1, 2012, through January 15, 2014, for his work titled “Efficacy of in vivo PGC-1α Transfection in Protecting Against Muscle Disuse Atrophy.”
This grant will suport an investigation using mice as a model on how local injection of a DNA binding protein called PGC-1α would improve recovery of hindlimb muscle from immobilization due to banding. Preliminary work indicates this nuclear cofactor enhances energy production, antioxidant defense and suppresses inflammatory response, and thus facilitates recovery.