Robert T. Dirksen, Ph.D.

Contact Information

Biography

Research

Dr. Dirksen directs a multi-disciplinary research program focused on elucidating disease mechanisms and advancing treatment for muscular dystrophy and heart disease. The laboratory investigates the pathophysiological mechanisms by which defects in the proper control of intracellular calcium signaling lead to muscle dysfunction and disease. Current projects involve elucidating the cellular mechanisms by which muscle function is controlled by proteins involved in coordinating: 1) excitation-contraction coupling, 2) store-operated calcium entry, and 3) mitochondrial calcium uptake and energy production, as well as 4) the molecular mechanisms for skeletal and cardiac muscle dysfunction in myotonic dystrophy.

Credentials

Education

1985
BS | University of Notre Dame
Biology

1988
MS | University of Rochester
Pharmacology

1991
PhD | University of Rochester
Pharmacology

Post-doctoral Training & Residency

1991 - 1996
Postdoctoral Fellow, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO (Mentor: Kurt G. Beam, Ph. D.)

Awards

2015
Chair
Sponsor: Muscle: Excitation-Contraction Coupling Gordon Conference

2012
Vice-Chair
Sponsor: Muscle: Excitation-Contraction Coupling Gordon Conference

2002
Graduate Student Society Faculty Mentoring Award

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Publications

Journal Articles

3/30/2020
Volpatti JR, Endo Y, Knox J, Groom L, Brennan S, Noche R, Zuercher WJ, Roy P, Dirksen RT, Dowling JJ. "Identification of drug modifiers for RYR1-related myopathy using a multi-species discovery pipeline." eLife.. 2020 Mar 30; 9Epub 2020 Mar 30.

2/10/2020
Kim JK, Jha NN, Feng Z, Faleiro MR, Chiriboga CA, Wei-Lapierre L, Dirksen RT, Ko CP, Monani UR. "Muscle-specific SMN reduction reveals motor neuron-independent disease in spinal muscular atrophy models." The Journal of clinical investigation.. 2020 Feb 10; Epub 2020 Feb 10.

2/3/2020
Tylock KM, Auerbach DS, Tang ZZ, Thornton CA, Dirksen RT. "Biophysical mechanisms for QRS- and QTc-interval prolongation in mice with cardiac expression of expanded CUG-repeat RNA." The Journal of general physiology.. 2020 Feb 3; 152(2)

Books & Chapters

2006
Chapter Title: Malignant hyperthermia Susceptibility is: GeneReviews at GeneTests.
Book Title: Medical Genetics Information Resource [database online]
Author List: Rosenberg, H; and Dirksen, RT
Published By: University of Washington 2006 in Seattle

2005
Chapter Title: Pathophysiology of muscle disorders linked to mutations in the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor.
Book Title: Ryanodine Receptors: Structure, Function and Dysfunction in Clinical Disease
Author List: Dirksen RT and Avila G
Edited By: XH Wehrens and AR Marks
Published By: Springer 2005

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