The Marks lab is devoted to improving basic understandings of mechanisms that regulate calcium dependent signals including muscle contraction and cell growth. In particular the lab focuses on the structure/function relationships of ion channel macromolecular complexes including the ryanodine receptor/ calcium release channel (RyR) and the IP3 receptor. The lab employs a wide range of techniques including molecular and cell biology, confocal calcium imaging, structural biology, muscle physiology, and generates genetically altered animal models of human diseases to test hypotheses.