Rachelle Crosbie-Watson, Ph.D.

My research program focuses on determining the pathogenetic mechanisms of muscular dystrophy. Members of the lab are examining the muscle function using biochemical, molecular, and cellular approaches. There are many forms of muscular dystrophy caused by primary genetic mutations within different muscle genes. For instance, mutations in dystrophin are responsible for causing Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) while mutations in any of the four sarcoglycan genes cause limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Congenital and Emery-Dreyfus muscular dystrophies are caused by mutations in laminin and emerin, respectively. These muscle diseases differ based on the types of muscles that are affected, clinical progress of the disease, and mode of inheritance. My lab is interested in 1) determining why these proteins are critical for normal muscle function 2) creating animal models for specific forms of muscular dystrophy using transgenic and knockout mouse technology and 3) developing new therapeutic agents. We are in the process of testing FDA-approved compounds in mouse models of muscular dystrophy. In addition, we are developing novel animal models for muscle proteins that are known to rescue muscular dystrophy.

Dr. Crosbie-Watson has pioneered work on the function of sarcospan within the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. Introduction of sarcospan into dystrophin-deficient mice ameliorates muscular dystrophy in a me. The Crosbie lab has generated all the molecular tools and reagents for the study of sarcospan, which are not available elsewhere. Building on expertise in sarcospan and the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex, the Crosbie lab is collaborating with the Baum lab in development of HTS assays to detect alteration in sarcospan expression as a therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Dr. Crosbie has also collaborated with the Spencer group at UCLA to develop and characterize novel methodologies for creating mouse models of muscle disease. In addition to her research, Dr. Crosbie is a dedicated educator. She has trained several HHMI, Beckman, and Dean’s undergraduate and graduate scholars. She successfully mentored a successful recipient of the prestigious Marshall Scholarship. This student was one of only thirteen students to be awarded the Marshall in UCLA?s history. Based on her excellence in classroom instruction, Dr. Crosbie was nominated for a Teaching Distinction Award at UCLA and she is Faculty Director of the Beckman Undergraduate Scholars Program.