Pediatrics

Training

• Postdoctoral Training, University of Florida, College of Medicine
• Ph.D., University of Florida
• B.S., University of Nebraska-Kearney

Research Overview

Our laboratory has considerable experience with rAAV-mediated gene therapy and Dr. Falk is applying this technology towards the correction of the cardiac and respiratory muscle deficits associated with inheritable diseases. Specifically, he has implemented this approach to reverse and/or ameliorate the effects of glycogen storage disease type-II (Pompe Disease). Currently, Dr. Falk is comparing the effectiveness of alternative serotypes and promoters in order to optimize the transduction of target tissues. At the same time, he is assessing the significance of pharmacological applications for the treatment of Pompe disease.

Dr. Falk is also working on the development of a novel gene reporter system for detection with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. This application will allow researchers the advantage of assessing rAAV mediated gene transduction in vivo.

About

Dr. Falk is a Post-Doctoral Fellow in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy and Powell Gene Therapy Center. He received his B.S. in Biology from the University of Nebraska-Kearney and his Ph.D. from the University of Florida.

Key Publications

Additional publications can be found in PubMed.

1. McClung JM, AN Kavazis, MA Whidden, KC DeRuisseau, DJ Falk, DS Criswell, and SK Powers. Antioxidant administration attenuates mechanical ventilation-induced rat diaphragm muscle atrophy independent of protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) signalling. J Physiol. 2007 Nov 15;585(Pt 1):203-15. Epub 2007 Oct 4
2. J. M. McClung, M.A. Whidden, A.N. Kavazis, D.J. Falk, K.C. DeRuisseau, and S.K. Powers. Redox regulation of diaphragm proteolysis during mechanical ventilation. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2008 May;294(5):R1608-17. Epub 2008 Mar 5.
3. D.J. Falk, J.M. McClung, M.A. Deering, A.J. Smuder, M.B. Hudson and S.K. Powers. Overexpression of HO-1 attenuates mechanical ventilation-induced atrophy of the diaphragm. (Submitted 5/08, Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol).
4. Whidden M.A., McClung J.M., Falk D.J., Hudson M.B., Smuder A.J., Nelson W.B., Powers S.K. Xanthine Oxidase Contributes to Mechanical Ventilation-Induced Diaphragmatic Oxidative Stress and Contractile Dysfunction. J Appl Physiol. 2009 Feb;106(2):385-94. Epub 2008 Oct 30.
5. Mah, C, Falk DJ, Lewis MA, Cloutier DC, DeRuisseau LR, Fuller DD, Byrne BJ. Gel-mediated delivery of AAV1 vectors corrects ventilatory function in Pompe mice with established disease. (Submitted 11/08 Molecular Therapy).