Ward Lab

Mission

Using state-of-the-art functional, imaging and motphological technologies to better understand pacemaker activity and neuroeffector motor transmission in visceral smooth muscle organs.

Key areas of focus

  • Using multifaceted approaches to develop a better understanding of the cellular mecanisms underyling pacemaker activity in speclized interstitial cells in visceral organs.
  • Investigations into the communication pathways between motor nerves, specialized neuroeffector cells and smooth muscle cells.
  • Investigations into the motor activity of the human stomach in health and disease.

Lab team

Sean M. Ward is a Foundation Professor within the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology. He has extensive experience studying pacemaker activity in smooth muscle visceral organs.

Complementary studies on neuroeffector motor transmission have revealed the importance of speclized interstitial cells as critical intermediaries in motor activity in visceral organs.

Sung Jin Hwang in an Associate Research Professor in the Ward laboratory. Drs. Ward and Hwang have collaborated together for over 20 years. Dr. Hwang is an expert in electrophysiology and protein biochemistry.

Notable research findings

  • Discovered the cell responsible for pacemaker activity in gastrointestinal muscles.
  • Unveiled the critical importance of specialized interstitial cells in neuroeffector motor transmsison.
  • Revealed the importance for myosalpinx contractions for the movements of oocytes in the female reproductive tract.
  • Identifed the ionic conductance responsible for pacemaker activity.
  • Discovered the ionic conductance responsible for cholinergic excitatory neurotransmission in the stomach.
  • Identifed the ionic mechanisms underlying pacemaker activity in the human stomach.

Equipment, technology and techniques

  • Intracellular microelectrode setups
  • Isometric force measurement
  • Confocal Microscopy
  • High speed confocal imaging with intracellular microelectrode recording capability

Active grants and research projects

  1. Electrophysiolgical Events underlying Human Gastric Motility.
    • Award: DK 057236
    • Funding organization: National Institutes of Health (NIH)