The Maughan Laboratory Group investigates the molecular basis of muscle contraction. We use advanced engineering methods to study interactions between muscle proteins in transgenic flies and mice provided by collaborating research groups at the University of Vermont and elsewhere. These same methods are also used to study impaired contractile performance in muscle biopsies obtained from patients at collaborating research hospitals. Our long-range goal is to apply our knowledge of muscle structure and function gained from these studies to the diagnosis and treatment of muscle disease.