835 S. Wolcott Ave., (M/C 901)
Chicago, IL 60612-7342
312-996-7620 phone
312-996-1414 fax

J. Michael O'Donnell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Research Interest: Biochemistry, physiology, and molecular biology studies integrating cardiac metabolism, calcium handling, and enzyme expression in heart disease.  Utilizing methods of NMR spectroscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and in vivo gene transfer.

As a member of the Program in Integrative Cardiac Metabolism, my laboratory is interested in the fundamental mechanisms responsible for the regulation of metabolism in healthy and diseased heart (diabetes, hypertrophy, heart failure, and ischemia/reperfusion). Mathematical models of cardiac metabolism are derived and fit to NMR data acquired from functioning hearts oxidizing 13 C labeled substrates. This gives metabolic activity and enzyme rates in parallel to measures of bioenergetics and function. Our studies have a mechanistic focus, and we are currently utilizing methods of gene transfer to manipulate the content of key regulatory enzymes in vivo. Our long-term goal is to identify targets for the therapeutic treatment of heart disease.

For more information on the Program in Integrative Cardiac Metabolism, see our homepage: http://www.heartmetabolism.uic.edu