Dr. Matthew Kostek is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Therapy at Duquesne University.  He is the founder and current director of the Laboratory of Muscle and Translational Therapeutics in the Rangos School of Health Sciences. The laboratory conducts collaborative research projects on muscle physiology with the Departments of Biology, Pharmacy, and Occupational Therapy and the University of Pittsburgh.

Combining pharmaceutics with physical therapy is our specialty. The laboratory examines the molecular mechanisms and rehabilitation outcomes of therapeutic interventions to treat injury, aging, or disease of muscle. Current research projects in the laboratory examine: 1) nanoparticle drug delivery to treat muscle diseases (DMD, myositis) and muscle injury, 2) Combining exercise and muscle loading interventions with drug delivery to treat muscle injuries and diseases, and 3) in collaboration with scientists and clinicians at Duquesne and UPMC we examine alternative therapies that include exercise to treat chronic pain syndromes. Dr. Kostek’s laboratory has received federal, foundation, and corporate funding and he has received the Dean’s Award for Research Excellence in the Rangos School of Health Sciences.

Dr. Kostek is highly involved with the American College of Sports Medicine where he has served on several committees both as a member and chair and is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Dr. Kostek has authored several publications; a partial list is here.