Hale Lab
Myotonic dystrophy, congenital myotonic dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy
The translational lab of Melissa Hale, Ph.D., is dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying genetic muscular dystrophies and developing innovative therapies to address these debilitating diseases. Researchers study how RNA processing mechanisms influence muscle function and disease, identify and validate molecular biomarkers with clinical utilities and pioneer novel therapeutic strategies, including gene therapies.
Dedicated researchers in the lab aim to:
- Understand the molecular mechanisms contributing to disease pathogenesis and progression
- Develop disease-specific molecular biomarkers that correlate with clinical outcomes and monitor therapeutic efficacy
- Develop and deploy novel, targeted therapies for these disorders
Through collaborations with other researchers at CIMR, the Hale Lab integrates human biospecimens and clinical data to rapidly translate lab discoveries to the clinic, driving a future where the burden of muscular dystrophy is significantly reduced — or even reversed.
Contact Us
To learn more or get involved, please contact:
Melissa Hale, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Neurology
Email: melissa.hale@vcuhealth.org