Dr. Mariappan Muthuchamy

Biography

Mariappan Muthuchamy is a Professor in the Department of Medical Physiology at Texas A&M University, where he serves as the Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute. His research focuses on cardiac and lymphatic muscle contraction, specifically studying the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac muscle dynamics in both normal and diseased states. His laboratory aims to understand the relationships between thin filament activation and crossbridge kinetics as well as the mechanotransduction signaling that transmits myofilament activation. Muthuchamy's team employs a variety of techniques, including molecular, cellular, biochemistry, and structural biophysical methods, to explore the fundamental regulatory mechanisms involved in cardiac muscle contraction. They utilize mouse heart models and measure cardiac function through work-performing preparations and echocardiograms. Muthuchamy's research also delves into the lymphatic muscle contraction, investigating its regulatory mechanisms and its similarities to heart function. His team studies the mechanotransduction mechanisms in cardiomyocytes and employs isolated vessel preparations to explore the roles of regulatory proteins in lymphatic muscle contraction, amidst efforts to understand lymphatic function and the treatment of conditions such as lymphedema.

Research Interests

Awards