Symptoms of DMD include cardiomyopathy. Previous work has shown that several cardiac symptoms of DMD can be traced to calcium handling defects. A preliminary drug screen by our lab identified several L-type Calcium Channel blockers (CCBs) that were able to provide a cardioprotective effect. To conclusively determine the effectiveness of these CCBs, we use iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes in a high-throughput drug screening platform that can accurately replicate physiological cardiomyocytes and screen these CCBs for potential drug therapies. This project will culminate in the development of a novel and cost-effective platform that offers superior prediction of drug efficacy for DMD and potentially other cardiomyopathies as well.
Lead investigator: Naveen Arunachalam Sakthiyendran
