As a Ph.D. student in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley, I study aging with a focus on sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. Despite advances in understanding muscle atrophy, no effective therapies exist to restore muscle function in aging populations. My research investigates how satellite cells, the stem cells responsible for muscle regeneration, lose their regenerative potential outside their native microenvironment. To address this, I engineer in vitro models that replicate the extracellular matrix and mechanical cues of healthy muscle tissue. By analyzing how these biophysical factors affect satellite cell activation and differentiation, I aim to identify mechanosignaling pathways that can be targeted to enhance muscle repair. This work has broad implications for restoring mobility and independence in the elderly and may also benefit those with muscle-wasting diseases like muscular dystrophy or cachexia.
Hannaneh Kabir
