Systems Approaches To Understanding Mitochondrial Function And Dysfunction In Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$431,000.00
Summary
Mitochondria produce the energy for our bodies. Defects in this process cause mitochondrial disease, which affects at least 1/4300 people. Diagnosis is often inconclusive and few if any effective treatments exist. State of the art CRISPR gene-editing tools will be used to make disease models mimicking the different types of mitochondrial disease. These will be used to understand how mitochondria function, identify new disease genes and develop new drugs.
Assembly Of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Complexes And Their Defects Associated With Disease.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$413,431.00
Summary
Mitochondrial “respiratory chain complexes are multi-subunit assemblies that function to produce most of our cellular energy. Defects in the assembly of these complexes can result in mitochondrial disease, including infant death. The assembly of the respiratory complexes is a complicated procedure and the mechanisms involved in disease remain elusive. This work will aid in our understanding of how these protein complexes are built and how defects in their assembly can cause disease.
Understanding The Link Between Mitochondrial Biogenesis And Disease
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,055.00
Summary
As the predominate energy producers of our cells, mitochondria are implicated in a variety of diseases. To function properly, these dynamic organelles rely on protein components that regulate their structure and distribution throughout the cell. My work aims to expand our knowledge of the way these components control mitochondrial shape and trafficking. By understanding the correlation between mitochondrial morphology and function, we will gain insight into related diseases.
We stand without falling by using silent senses from muscles and the balance organs of the inner ear to unconsciously detect and control our movements. Since the leg muscles provide both the force and the sense, and critically rely on good circulation, they are vitally important. I propose to study how these sensory and muscle functions are used to control balance, posture and stepping reflexes, making it easier to identify older people who will fall and design new preventative strategies.
Mood and anxiety disorders represent a tremendous cause of disability and morbidity. This research will use cutting-edge brain imaging technologies to understand why these disorders typically emerge in young people and whether brain imaging can reliably predict the effectiveness of different treatments for individual patients.