Dr. Charles Redwood

Biography

Charles Redwood is an Associate Professor in Cardiovascular Biochemistry, focusing on cardiac contractility and its regulation. His research investigates the mechanisms of muscle contraction and how these processes are altered in disease states. Redwood examines inherited heart disorders, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which are linked to mutations in genes that encode components of the contractile apparatus. He employs structure-function approaches to understand how specific mutations affect contractile protein behavior using biochemical and biophysical assays. His studies have shown that HCM mutations in thin filament regulatory proteins, such as troponin and tropomyosin, increase calcium sensitivity, while DCM mutations lead to reduced sensitivity. Additionally, Redwood uses cardiomyocyte studies, employing adenoviral vectors to express mutant contractile proteins, assessing their impact on contractility and calcium handling. His current research also explores the role of post-translational modifications in cardiac proteins and how they relate to acquired disease states like ischemia and diabetes. By analyzing mutations that cause skeletal muscle diseases, he aims to examine correlations between protein structural impacts and functional outcomes in myopathy.

Research Interests