Understanding how skeletal muscle relaxes
Official title: Dissecting the structural origin of relaxation in skeletal muscle
Funded at Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester · NIH-11053475 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring how muscles relax after they contract, which is important for everyone, especially those interested in improving muscle function and energy use, by looking closely at the tiny structures in muscles to see how they work together to help muscles relax efficiently.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Worcester, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $549,818 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AR081941-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11053475 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with conditions affecting muscle function or those interested in muscle physiology.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no muscle-related conditions or those not interested in the biological mechanisms of muscle function may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms behind muscle relaxation, a process that is not fully understood despite advances in muscle contraction studies. It focuses on the structural and energetic aspects of relaxation, particularly how myosin heads in thick filaments interact and switch off to conserve energy. Using advanced techniques like cryo-electron microscopy, the research aims to uncover the atomic structure of thick filaments and the role of specific myosin head conformations in muscle relaxation. This could lead to a deeper understanding of muscle function and energy efficiency.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for muscle-related disorders and enhance our understanding of muscle physiology.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific hypothesis regarding super-relaxation and myosin head conformation is novel, similar studies have shown promise in understanding muscle contraction and relaxation mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
Worcester, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Padron, Raul — Univ of Massachusetts Med Sch Worcester
- Study coordinator: Padron, Raul
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.