Dr. Khaled Kamal
Assistant Professor, Department of Kinesiology, Iowa State University
Director, Musculoskeletal Redox & Therapeutics Laboratory (Kamal’s Lab)

I am an Assistant Professor and the Director of the Musculoskeletal Redox & Therapeutics Laboratory (Kamal’s Lab) in the Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University. My laboratory’s research agenda is dedicated to identifying novel mechanisms, biomarkers and therapeutics for chronic diseases through the lenses of redox biology, inflammation, and oxidative stress. We employ integrative approaches ranging from in vitro to ex vivo and in vivo studies in musculoskeletal biology.
At Kamal’s Lab, our research delves into mechanotransduction, redox biology, muscle-tissue communication, crosstalk biomarkers (EVs, exosomes, …e.g.), gene therapy, and drug development. We aim to uncover potential therapeutic targets for chronic muscular diseases, including spaceflight-induced disuse, neuromuscular disorders like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD), and aging-related muscle degeneration. Additionally, our lab focuses on identifying novel mechanotransduction responses and adaptation mechanisms to the spaceflight environment. Our research mission, “Why we explore: Translating,” drives our efforts to translate basic scientific discoveries into tangible health benefits.
Over the past decade, I have cultivated a comprehensive skill set in cellular, molecular, biochemical, and physiological techniques. My work has been funded by prestigious organizations such as the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, where I have explored cellular and molecular response mechanisms to microgravity. I have also led projects funded by NASA, FightMD, and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (PPMD), focusing on understanding skeletal muscle atrophy and pathological damage in spaceflight and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).