College of Medicine
Taivassalo Lab
Led by Tanja Taivassalo · Physiology and Aging
What we study
The Taivassalo Lab studies muscle diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and Friedreich’s ataxia, using cardiopulmonary exercise testing and biomarkers to improve treatments. They explore therapies like gene therapy, vasodilators, and functional electrical stimulation.
What working here is like
- Clinical
- Human participants
- Projects
- 4
- Papers
- 3
Current projects
The use of Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) to demonstrate physiological benefits of gene-therapy on exercise capacity in DMD
Using CPET to measure how gene therapy affects exercise capacity in DMD patients.
Vasodilators and Exercise as Adjuvant Therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (VASO-REx study) Supplement
Testing vasodilators alongside exercise to improve muscle function in DMD.
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Countering sympathetic vasoconstriction during skeletal muscle exercise as an adjuvant therapy for DMD
Developing therapies to reduce blood vessel constriction during exercise in DMD patients.
Use of a biomarker approach to optimize rehabilitation strategies for DMD patients
Using biomarkers to personalize rehabilitation plans for DMD patients.
Summaries are written by AI in plain language from public symposium abstracts and may be imperfect.
Recent papers, explained
- Meeting report: Translating exercise research in dystrophinopathy to the clinic
2026 · Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases
Reviews exercise guidelines for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.
- Basal Energetics and Phosphocreatine Recovery Kinetics in Ambulatory Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
2026 · NMR in Biomedicine
Measures muscle energy levels in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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- Evaluation of a control paradigm allowing heart rate guided rehabilitative exercise for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy
2025 · Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation
Develops a method to guide exercise intensity using heart rate for boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
Plain-language summaries are AI-written and reviewed by us; check the paper for details.
How to reach out
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