Cell, Tissue, and Muscle Physiology - George J. Christ, Ph.D.
Dr. Christ’s research interests are in the area of Functional Genomics, that is, establishing a verifiable link between changes in gene expression and alterations in cell/organ/tissue function/dysfunction. To this end, Dr. Christ has developed a multidisciplinary approach that utilizes various visceral and vascular smooth muscle tissues/organs to attempt to establish "cause and effect" relationships between molecular/genetic alterations and measurable changes in organ function, namely, contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle cells. Animal vascular and visceral tissues are studied both in vitro and in vivo. Molecular, biochemical, electrophysiological, pharmacological, immunochemical, and whole animal techniques (rat and mouse transgenics and knockouts) are all used to study the mechanistic basis for integrative tissue physiology. Parallel in vitro studies are conducted on corresponding human tissues for target validation whenever possible. A logical extension of these studies is their current application to the fields of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Dr. Christ is a Professor of Urology and Head of the Program in Cell, Tissue and Organ Physiology at the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. He is the former Director and founder of the Institute for Smooth Muscle at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he maintains an appointment as a Visiting Professor in the Depts. of Urology and Physiology & Biophysics. He is an internationally recognized expert in smooth muscle physiology. Dr. Christ is the Chairman of the Division of Systems and Integrative Pharmacology of the American Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, and currently serves on the Editorial Board of two journals, as well as being an Editorial Consultant to the Investigative Urology section of the Journal of Urology. Dr. Christ has authored more than 120 scientific publications and has co-edited a book on smooth muscle. Dr. Christ has served on both national and international committees related to his expertise in smooth muscle physiology and has served on NIH study sections in both the NIDDK and NHLBI. Dr. Christ was the Co-Chair of the Muscle Working Group for the NIDDK-sponsored Bladder Progress Review Group, as well as being Co-Chair for the Pharmacology of Erection Committee of the 2nd International Consultation on ED convened by the World Health Organization. He has lectured worldwide on smooth muscle physiology/dysfunction and is a frequent reviewer for more than a dozen medical/basic science journals. Dr. Christ is a co-inventor on more than 20 patents that are either issued or applied for related to gene therapy treatments for smooth muscle disorders/diseases, and is the Co-Founder and Directing Member of Ion Channel Innovations, LLC, a development stage biotechnology company pioneering the use of gene therapy for the treatment of human smooth muscle disorders. Dr. Christ has been and continues to serve as a consultant to major pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.