Muscle mass and molecular or histological findings do not always predict how well a muscle can generate force, resist fatigue, or withstand injury. Direct muscle-function assessment provides critical insight into disease severity, mechanisms of weakness, physiological adaptation, and responses to genetic, pharmacological, nutritional, and exercise interventions.
In this webinar, Dr. Chris Perry and Dr. Arthur Cheng will discuss the complementary roles of in vivo, in situ, and in vitro approaches and the biological questions each can help answer. Drawing on applications in disease models and intervention studies, they will examine how functional measurements connect whole-animal performance with muscle, cellular, and molecular outcomes, strengthen preclinical therapy development, and guide downstream mechanistic investigation.
Key Learning Objectives
- Explain why muscle mass, histology, and molecular markers may not accurately predict functional capacity.
- Compare the advantages and limitations of in vivo, in situ, and in vitro muscle-function assessments.
- Identify the biological insights provided by measurements of strength, contractile kinetics, fatigability, and susceptibility to injury.
- Select muscles, experimental models, and functional outcomes based on the research question.
- Relate muscle-function measurements to disease severity, physiological mechanisms, treatment response, and clinically relevant outcomes.
Instructors
Christopher Perry, PhD
Professor, School of Kinesiology & Health Science
Director, Muscle Health Research Centre
Faculty of Health, York University
Dr. Christopher Perry’s research focuses on the regulation of skeletal muscle metabolism, particularly how disruptions in metabolic control contribute to muscle weakness in disorders such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy, cancer cachexia, and chemotherapy-induced muscle weakness. A central aim of his work is to develop novel therapies to enhance muscle fitness and restore metabolic control in these conditions.
Using an integrative approach, Dr. Perry’s laboratory employs preclinical rodent models, human muscle biopsies, and cell cultures to directly assess muscle fitness and mitochondrial bioenergetics. His research emphasizes mitochondrial regulation as a key determinant of muscle function, exploring its role in energy provision, oxidative stress, and calcium homeostasis. This work informs therapeutic strategies in collaboration with international pharmaceutical partners and helps refine exercise therapy regimens for specific disorders.
With a strong commitment to education and collaboration, Dr. Perry frequently shares his methodologies and expertise at specialized international training workshops. His program benefits from diverse collaborations and funding from prestigious organizations, including NSERC, Muscular Dystrophy Canada, and the Rare Disease Foundation, making him a leader in advancing muscle mechanics research.
Arthur Cheng, PhD
Associate Professor, School of Kinesiology & Health Science
Faculty of Health, York University
Dr. Arthur Cheng’s research centers on understanding the cellular mechanisms of skeletal muscle weakness, fatigue, and post-exercise recovery. His laboratory employs translational research approaches, spanning from single muscle fiber studies to whole-animal and human models, with a unique focus on delineating how excitation-contraction coupling in intact muscle fibers influences contractile force generation in both healthy and diseased states.
An overarching aim of Dr. Cheng’s work is knowledge translation: applying research findings to develop pharmacological, nutritional, and exercise-based interventions that enhance muscle strength and fatigue resistance across various populations, including aging and disease-affected groups. His expertise in muscle fiber mechanics, combined with his innovative research methodologies, positions him as a key contributor to advancing therapeutic strategies for improving muscle performance and recovery.
