About
Mitochondrial diseases affect approximately 1 in every 5,000 newborns, making them some of the most common genetic diseases. How these diseases present varies greatly, ranging from early fatality to progressive, adult-onset symptoms. This makes diagnosis and prognosis difficult, and even with proper identification, there are currently no effective treatments for this class of diseases. The best chance for developing treatments lies in expanding our understanding of mitochondrial behavior. This is particularly true within the context of the whole cell and organism because mitochondria are considered metabolic “hotspots” and are well-integrated into a large number of biochemical pathways.
Our research focuses on how mitochondria are embedded in normal cellular function. Improving our understanding will help us identify new insights into mitochondrial diseases and allow us
to develop clinical tools and therapeutic options.