The Muscle Biology and Physiology Program in the Department of Physical Therapy focuses on enhancing our understanding of the molecular signals and cellular processes involved in regulating muscle damage and wasting, and the subsequent repair processes. In addition, the program is dedicated to identifying novel therapeutic strategies to promote muscle regeneration and accelerate the rehabilitation process. These interventions include gene transfer and pharmacological strategies, which are being pursued in conjunction with activity based rehabilitation interventions to maximize the recovery of patients. Investigators within this program are exploring pathophysiological conditions that detrimentally affect muscle including inactivity/disuse, spinal cord injury, muscular dystrophy, cancer and sepsis. The complementary treatment approaches being studied within this program push the traditional boundaries of the field of muscle rehabilitation, and have great potential to improve the science behind patient care for those impacted by muscle disease and injury.