Understanding the effects of cigarette smoke on skeletal muscle stem cells and muscle fibres

"Cigarette smoking does not only increase the risk of developing cardiorespiratory diseases, but also can lead to muscle wasting and weakness. We do not know how smoking affects muscle mass, but one of the problems could be that smoking impairs the function of those cells in the muscle that are crucial for muscle growth, maintenance and repair; the muscle stem cells. The impact of smoking on those cells is yet unknown and this lack of understanding may well be the major reason why we have not developed ways of restoring muscle function in smokers. The goals of this work are: 1. Identify cellular, mitochondrial and gene expression changes in muscle caused by cigarette smoke.
2. Use gene expression data and bio-informatics to identify safe drugs that reverse effects of smoke on muscle.
3. Test candidate compounds efficacy in preventing smoke-induced muscle wasting.
The work is suitable for a highly motivated student interested in medically related topics focused on human health. The student will gain cutting edge training in stem cells biology, bio-informatics, molecular and cellular biology."