Awarded in 2011
Home Department: Biochemistry
Faculty Advisors: James Spudich (Biochemistry) and Euan Ashley (Medicine)

Research Title: Molecular level understanding of cardiomyopathy mutations on the regulated actomyosin interaction

Research Description: In the United States, cardiovascular disorders are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Familial cardiomyopathies are among the most frequently occurring inherited cardiac diseases, and many result from mutations in the fundamental force-generating system of cardiac muscle, myosin, and the thin filament. The interaction between myosin and the thin filament has been fine-tuned in cardiac muscle in terms of power output and the rates of force generation and relaxation. The goal of this project is to characterize how cardiomyopathy mutations affect force-producing capabilities of cardiac muscle at the single molecule, single cell, and whole organ levels.

WHERE IS SHE NOW?

Ruth is a senior principal scientist at Pfizer