Darin James Falk
Postdoctoral Fellow (Department of Pediatrics/Powell Gene Therapy Center), University of Florida
PhD, Exercise Physiology, University of Florida
MAEd., Exercise Physiology, University of Nebraska-Kearney
BS, Comprehensive Biology, University of Nebraska-Kearney

Student Profile:
Darin received his BS in Biology and MAEd. in Exercise Physiology from the University of Nebraska, Kearney. He enrolled in the HHP program at the University of Florida in 2002 and entered the NMPT training program during his second year. During his graduate training Darin was primarily mentored by Dr. Scott Powers, Director of the Center for Exercise Science. His dissertation focused on muscle dysfunction during mechanical ventilation and the potential of antioxidants to restore diaphragmatic contractile function. He has published more than a dozen peer reviewed publications. Darin received his PhD in 2007 and is currently a postdoctoral fellow in a strong research laboratory focused on muscle regeneration.

Research Project Description:
Pompe disease (1:40000 live births, glycogen storage disease type II, acid maltase deficiency; MIM 232300) is characterized by severe cardiomyopathy and respiratory muscle weakness that affects individuals at an early age. These effects are mediated by a single defective gene encoding the enzyme acid a-glucosidase (GAA), resulting in glycogen accumulation within muscle tissue. Glycogen deposits disrupt the architecture and function of both cardiac and skeletal muscle and cause a debilitating and often fatal condition. Presently, there is no effective cure for Pompe disease and treatment options are severely limited. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), the only approved treatment for Pompe disease, must be administered frequently and only provides partial benefit to the patient. Therefore, the focus of this laboratory is to develop a novel therapeutic approach to reverse or ameliorate the effects of Pompe disease. Darin's research focuses on developing novel therapeutic modalities incorporating the use of rAAV to improve the outcome of patients with Pompe disease.

Awards and Honors
2006 Allen/Holyoak/Varnes Alumni Scholarship
2005 Neuromuscular Plasticity Symposium poster award, Univ. of Florida
2004 Graduate Council, Travel award
2002-2003 Jane A. Edmonds PhD Fellowship

Quote from Darin Falk on how he benefited from participation in the Training Program: “Involvement with the T32 training program has enabled me to become more aware of the research that exists within my own and across multiple disciplines. The fellowship program accomplished this by engaging me in a diverse range of seminars, meetings and discussions with well-reputed scientists within and outside of my research area. Opportunities such as these would have been limited without an affiliation with the program. These aspects, among others, have helped to shape me as a more rounded and mature researcher”.

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