MyoMatrix Lab

The MyoMatrix Lab was established by Lucas R. Smith, Ph.D. in 2018 at the University of California, Davis in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology, & Behavior in conjunction with the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the UC Davis Medical School.  

Our research is focused on understanding the mechanisms by which skeletal muscle adapts, with an emphasis on the fibrotic process that is associated with many muscle pathologies including muscular dystrophies.  We seek to uncover the relationship between the structure of the extracellular matrix and both the mechanical function of muscle and the regenerative capacity of muscle stem cells. These studies will guide novel therapies for fibrotic muscle diseases. We conduct this research using an interdisciplinary approach from fields of biomechanics, advanced microscopy, stem cell biology, biomedical engineering, and regenerative medicine.

The MyoMatrix lab is associated with the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Group (BMEGG), the Molecular, Cellular, & Integrative Physiology Graduate Group (MCIPGG), and Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Graduate Group (BMCDBGG) at UC Davis to advance these research goals and provide training opportunities to graduate students.