Baker Lab

Mission

To gain a deeper understanding of gastrointestinal (GI) and bladder diseases that pave the way for more effective treatments and interventions.

Key areas of focus

  • Researching smooth muscle physiology and motor neurotransmission from peripheral nerves, specifically in the gastrointestinal (GI) and bladder muscles.
  • Understanding the role of interstitial pacemaker cells in generating and regulating motility.
  • Investigating mechanisms of calcium signaling, ion channels, mechano-transduction, neuroeffector pathways and cell-to-cell communication.
  • Primary emphasis on diseases such as overactive bladder, incontinence, irritable bowel syndrome, gastroparesis and constipation.

Lab team

Sal Baker, Ph.D., is an associate professor of physiology and cell biology specializing in gastrointestinal and bladder diseases. Utilizing cutting-edge techniques, the Baker Lab has made significant advancements in unraveling novel aspects of GI physiology such as reporting calcium dynamics and its regulation in gut pacemakers and fibroblast cells at subcellular resolution. Notably, this has led to the development of innovative artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to ensure accuracy in defining calcium release sites and cell-to-cell interactions.

  • Sal Baker, Ph.D.: Principal Investigator

Notable research findings

  • Identified calcium signaling dynamics in pacemaker Interstitial Cells of Cajals (ICCs) and PDGFRα⁺ cells in situ using optogenetics.
  • Discovered critical channels and transporters involved in ICC pacemaker activity and smooth muscle responses.
  • Demonstrated the essential role of calcium signaling in pacemaker activity and its link to calcium-activated chloride conductance (ANO1).
  • Revealed direct purinergic innervation of PDGFRα⁺ cells and its influence on neuromuscular communication.
  • Designed and developed innovative AI tools to enhance imaging methods, enabling precise identification of calcium release sites and detailed analysis of cell interactions.

Equipment, technology and techniques

  • Dual-color confocal calcium imaging system
  • Laser photo-stimulation and ablation system
  • Fluorescent dual-color low power imaging system with wide-zoom range
  • FRET imaging setup
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • RNAscope in situ hybridization
  • Isometric tension recording
  • Metabolic cages

Active grants and research projects

  1. Role of interstitial cells of Cajal in patterned colonic motor activity.
    • Award: 2R01DK120759-05A1
    • Funding organization: National Institute of Health (NIH)
  2. Phenotypic diversity of interstitial cells of Cajal and colonic motor functions.
    • Award: R01-DK120759-01
    • Funding organization: National Institute of Health (NIH) - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)