The mitochondrial biology and therapy group investigates how damaged mitochondria drive the degeneration of neurons in the eye and brain, and develops new therapeutic strategies to treat these conditions.

To this end, we established MitoCatch, a technology that uses engineered protein binders to deliver healthy mitochondria into specific, disease-affected cell types.

Building on this platform, we are developing targeted mitochondrial transfer as a new treatment for neurodegenerative diseases and blinding optic neuropathies such as Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy and glaucoma.

We also apply MitoCatch to study mitochondrial biogenesis and mitophagy directly in neurons of the human retina and brain, with the goal of discovering new therapeutic targets for improving mitochondrial function.