Regulation and functional consequences of novel post-translational modifications on sarcomeric proteins in striated muscle 

Functional modulation of cardiomyocytes in response to hormonal changes associated with menstruation and menopause 

Mechanisms underlying sex differences in adult male and female sarcomeres 

Determining sarcomeric mechanisms that contribute to diastolic dysfunction

Dr. Kathleen Woulfe grew up in Pinedale, Wyoming and graduated with a BS in Biology from Washington and Lee University. She completed her PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology under Dr. Thomas Force studying how GSK-3beta impacts cardiac hypertrophy at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Dr. Woulfe completed her post-doctoral work at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center studying how pediatric heart failure differs from adult heart failure. She started the lab in 2018 with the goal to define mechanisms underlying age and sex differences in the heart. Outside of the lab, Dr. Woulfe loves all things water-related and getting outside with her 3 daughters.

Link to CV

Tim Jones is originally from Auckland, New Zealand where he also completed his undergraduate and doctoral studies. He was awarded a PhD in Physiology under the supervision of Dr Marie-Louise Ward, studying changes in cardiac calcium handling and mechanics in type 2 diabetes. Tim moved to Colorado in 2023 to join the Woulfe lab for his first post-doctoral fellowship, where he has been awarded an American Heart Association Post-Doctoral Fellowship to study histone deacetylase 8 as a novel mechanism for the modulation of relaxation. In his free time, Tim enjoys hiking in the Rockies and watching rugby and cricket.

Chris Hoffer is a graduate student in the Integrated Physiology Program at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School, where he works under the mentorship of Dr. Woulfe. A native of Marion, Ohio, Chris served over a decade in the U.S. Marines before earning his B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Since moving to Colorado in 2021 to pursue his passion for research, Chris joined the Woulfe lab as a research technician. He has concentrated on investigating the physiological mechanisms underlying sarcomere dysfunction with a focus on age and sex differences in the heart.  In his free time, Chris enjoys film photography, hiking, and cheering on THE Ohio State Buckeyes, as well as spending time outdoors with family.

Rachael Keeney grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico and graduated with a BS in Ecology, Evolutionary, Organismal Biology and a MS with emphasis is Behavioral Ecology from Eastern New Mexico University. She moved to Denver, Colorado in 2018 and started working in the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in the Office of Laboratory Animal Resources (OLAR) as an Animal Care 1. She was promoted to Breeder Core in 2019 where she learned how to manage and care for multiple Laboratory Animal Colonies. She then took her knowledge for colony management and became the colony manager for the Bell Lab, McKinsey Lab, Vagnozzi Lab, and Woulfe Lab in 2023. Her passion is animal care and loves helping the animal colonies thrive for research. When not in the Vivarium, Rachael enjoys taking care of her reptiles at home, baking, and drawing/sculpting with her husband.