Sequencing of the human genome transformed molecular medicine, generating resources, technology, and infrastructure that allows the genetic foundation of human disease to be diagnosed at an unprecedented rate. Despite this amazing development, our ability to capitalise on the data to develop therapies for inherited disease lags far behind. Inherited mitochondrial diseases affect 1 in 4300 people and there are no cures for these often-devastating diseases. A major bottleneck remains a limited understanding of the underlying biology and how genetic mutations affect cellular function. To bridge this gap, we will investigate the regulation of the mitochondrial genome which is maternally inherited and can also be affected by several common antibiotics and pesticides. We leverage the latest technological advances in life science research to better understand the basis by which mitochondrial diseases arise at the molecular level.

2024

2027