This competitive award supports clinically qualified professionals, with an effective track record of internationally competitive independent research, to make the transition to research leadership, and it provides support for up to five years. Carlo’s research focuses on muscle atrophy in both acute and chronic conditions, and the development of treatments to remedy it.
Carlo said: “This award not only represents a validation of the dedication and passion that I have for my research but it will also serve as a stepping stone for my personal and professional growth. Muscle atrophy, from hereditary neuromuscular conditions to cancer- and age-induced muscle loss, is a major cause of disability and an important predictor of overall mortality. Owing to an incomplete understanding of skeletal muscle systems, treatments to counteract muscle loss are critically lacking. This investment in my work will provide opportunity to develop new treatments and to have a positive impact on the lives of patients and wider society.”
The Rinaldi Lab investigates genome expression and transcription in neurons and skeletal muscles, aiming to unravel the intricate processes underlying rare and neglected diseases like muscular atrophy.
This funding will go towards understanding how the Androgen Receptor (AR) protein makes muscles stronger and how it fails to do so when mutated, as in the case of spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a rare genetic neuromuscular disease. These studies will provide a substantial advancement in the understanding of the disease and provide an evidence base for the development of treatments for diseases characterised by skeletal muscle loss.