Dear Faculty, Staff and Students -
Mitochondria function is the energy powerhouse of the cell and an essential signaling center for cellular function. Defects in mitochondrial activity are linked to numerous inherited and acquired human diseases, such as infantile developmental disorders and syndromes, and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Accordingly, novel mitochondrial-focused therapeutics are being developed seeking to apply what is known about mitochondria to find interventions to mitigate or correct mitochondrial dysfunction.
Based on decades of groundbreaking research, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine is an international leader in the pathophysiology of mitochondria. More recently, this excellence has developed strong partnerships among an expanding group of researchers across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio. These researchers have coordinated basic, clinical and translational investigations of mitochondria action in normal and diseased human tissues and have initiated therapeutic advances.
To best bridge the School of Medicine’s research and that of industry partners, the school has established the Center for Mitochondrial Research and Therapeutics (CMRT), marking a significant milestone in our ongoing commitment to cutting-edge research.
Spearheaded by Professor Jason Mears, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, and Xin Qi, PhD, the Jeanette M. and Joseph S. Silber Professor of Brain Sciences, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, this innovative center will integrate several essential elements of the School of Medicine’s strategic plan. The center will develop interdisciplinary and programmatically focused research across departments and pursue clinical and translational research—using emerging technologies that support research that permeates all of our research priorities:
- Cancer
- Immunity, immunotherapy, infectious diseases
- Emerging infection and global health
- Therapeutic discovery and development
- Neurological and psychiatric disorders
- Human genetics
- Physiologic basis of diseases
- Molecular structure, and
- Metabolic disorders
Mears’ pioneering work on fundamental mechanisms of mitochondrial dysfunction synergizes ideally with Qi’s innovative focus on mitochondrial translational research in neurodegenerative diseases—laying the foundation for this multidisciplinary center. Their expertise, combined with existing strengths and collaborative approaches, promotes an effective nexus that drives important research questions in mitochondrial biology.
“Mitochondrial dysfunction sits at the core of most human ailments, and recent advances in technology allow us to better define critical deficiencies that contribute to poor patient outcomes,” said Mears. “Our center will leverage long-standing expertise from previous leaders, like Dr. Charles Hoppel, and continue developing new tools within the School of Medicine to investigate key mechanisms of metabolic adaptations in various disease states.”
In addition to basic and translational research on mitochondria, the central tenets of the CMRT are to foster collaboration and partnership, train the next generation of scientists, develop pipelines of mitochondria-targeted therapeutics and grow shared resources in mitochondrial research approaches.
The Mitochondrial Research Core was recently established to provide expertise and access to advanced experimental approaches that support mitochondrial research projects in the School of Medicine and partner institutions.
“At the CMRT, we aim to transform the promise of mitochondrial-targeted therapeutics into a tangible reality for patients,” said Qi. “With the collective efforts of our dedicated team and cutting-edge resources, we are well-positioned to advance the field significantly and make a profound impact on patient care.”
With the establishment of this center, we are poised to better understand mitochondrial dynamics and defects, ultimately paving the way for unprecedented breakthroughs in mitochondrial-directed therapeutics to improve patient outcomes.
Join us at the inaugural CMRT symposium on Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 2 to 6 p.m. in the Wolstein Research Building Auditorium 1413 with a reception to follow. We will hear from center leaders, Jason Mears and Xin Qi and other preeminent figures within the field of mitochondrial research, as well as School of Medicine leadership, faculty and students.
Stan Gerson, MD
Dean, CWRU School of Medicine
Director, National Center for Regenerative Medicine