David W Hammers

David W Hammers is an Assistant Professor in the Department of MD-PHARMACOLOGY / THERAPEUTICS at the University of Florida. His research focuses on understanding the physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms of skeletal and cardiac muscle, particularly in genetic diseases like muscular dystrophies. The Hammers Lab investigates therapeutic targets for muscle and heart diseases using small molecules and gene therapies, with recent work identifying repurposed drugs that reduce fibrosis and enhance muscle regeneration.

Teaching includes courses such as

• GMS6476 Fundamentals of Skeletal Muscle (2020-2024)
• PAS5026 Pharmacotherapeutics I (2023-2024)
• Molecules to Man: Past, Present and Future Therapeutic Strategies for Disease (2024-2025)

Research interests span

• Muscular dystrophy and cardiomyopathy
• Gene therapy development
• Regenerative medicine strategies
• Inflammation dynamics in muscle diseases

Publications highlight advancements in

• Cardiac function modulation in dystrophin-deficient hearts
• Microdystrophin gene therapy limitations
• Lipidomic profiling in disease models

Lab activities emphasize translational research with a focus on

• Remodeling therapeutics
• AAV-based gene delivery
• In vivo imaging technologies