Laboratory of Indranil Sinha, MD
Email: isinha@bwh.harvard.edu
Overview
The Sinha Lab explores the molecular basis for the loss of muscle regeneration and function involved in two scenarios of muscle wasting. In aging, we examine differentially regulated pathways with age, focusing on hypoxia signaling, that regulate stem cell regeneration and muscle mass. With regards to traumatic muscle injury, the lab focuses on bioscaffolds and induced pluripotent stem cells to restore muscle function following volumetric muscle loss.
Research Projects
Mechanisms of aerobic exercise in maintaining muscle mass and function with aging
Our pervious basic science research demonstrates that exercise is beneficial for muscle function at any age, but these benefits decrease with aging. Using multi-omic data and genetically modified mouse models, we explore pathways that regulate this loss and explore whether restoration of these pathways, including those involved in hypoxia sensing and nutrient regulation, are sufficient to restore the complete physiological benefit of exercise in aging.
Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) embedded scaffolds restore skeletal muscle function in models of volumetric muscle loss
To overcome limitations of conventional bioscaffolds, in collaboration with Bioengineering Colleagues, we have generated highly porous, gelatin-based scaffolds that covalently bind to soft tissue and engraft quickly and completely. The addition of iPSCs allow for functional muscle regeneration in the setting of volumetric muscle loss, which normally heal with fibrosis.