# The Extracellular Matrix in Muscle Atrophy

> **NIH NIH R00** · UNIVERSITY OF IOWA · 2020 · $249,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Dr. Erin E. Talbert, Ph.D., seeks to become an independent principal investigator studying muscle wasting due
to a variety of conditions, including cancer. Cancer-induced muscle wasting, a component of the cancer
cachexia syndrome, is a significant healthcare problem with few treatment options. Cancer cachexia leads to
poor patient quality of life and decreased patient survival. Pancreatic cancer patients are particularly affected
by cachexia, with perhaps 85% of all pancreatic cancer patients experiencing some weight loss. Additionally,
muscle wasting, not tumor burden, is the cause of death for at least 25% of pancreatic cancer patients.
Prevention and treatment of cancer-induced muscle wasting will improve survival and quality of life for patients
with many different types of cancers.
Dr. Talbert's K99/R00 Transition to Independence application “The Extracellular Matrix in Muscle Atrophy”
seeks to understand the mechanisms behind cancer-induced muscle wasting. Specifically, Dr. Talbert
hypothesizes that extracellular matrix remodeling is a cause of muscle atrophy in cancer. During the K99
portion of this application, Dr. Talbert will gain new skills in microscopy and the generation of transgenic mice
to test her hypotheses involving a causative role of the extracellular matrix in muscle atrophy. These skills will
be of use in her future independent laboratory, which Dr. Talbert envisions will focus on the role of the
extracellular matrix in muscle atrophy. The mentored K99 portion of this proposal will be conducted at The
Ohio State University in the laboratory of Dr. Denis Guttridge, a world-leader in muscle wasting research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10058941
- **Project number:** 4R00AR071508-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF IOWA
- **Principal Investigator:** Erin E Talbert
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $249,000
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2020-01-15 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10058941

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10058941, The Extracellular Matrix in Muscle Atrophy (4R00AR071508-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10058941. Licensed CC0.

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