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MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit

 

The strategic mission of the MBU is to understand mitochondrial biology in health and disease, and to exploit this understanding to develop new therapies and improve human health.

 


 

Read more at: Mouse models show potential for the clinical treatment of heteroplasmic mitochondrial disease
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Mouse models show potential for the clinical treatment of heteroplasmic mitochondrial disease

9 October 2025

New research carried out by members of Patrick Chinnery’s group has been published in Science . The article, “ Ubiquitin-mediated mitophagy regulates the inheritance of mitochondrial DNA mutations ” explains how mitochondrial mutations can overcome the intrinsic cellular quality control systems to cause disease and how to...


Read more at: John Walker gives opening lecture at the 15th International Congress on In-born Errors of Metabolism (Kyoto)
John Walker delivering lecture

John Walker gives opening lecture at the 15th International Congress on In-born Errors of Metabolism (Kyoto)

23 September 2025

On 3 September 2025, John Walker gave the opening lecture at the 15th International Congress on In-born Errors of Metabolism held in Kyoto, Japan. The lecture, given before an audience of over 1200 delegates, was entitled “My Life in the Mitochondrion”.


Read more at: Study in mice shows potential for new treatment to reduce brain damage from stroke

Study in mice shows potential for new treatment to reduce brain damage from stroke

6 August 2025

Cambridge scientists have developed and tested a new drug in mice that has the potential to reduce damage to the brain following stroke – a problem that affects more than nine in 10 stroke patients. Results from a collaborative research study led by Professors Mike Murphy and Thomas Krieg , working with a mouse model...


Read more at: Aspiring Scientists Training Programme (ASTP)
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Aspiring Scientists Training Programme (ASTP)

21 July 2025

From 7-11 July 2025, the MBU participated in the Gurdon Institute's Aspiring Scientists Training Programmme . Led by St Catharine’s College and the Gurdon Institute , we collaborated with Newnham College , Sainsbury Laboratory , Cambridge Institute for Medical Research (CIMR) and Wellcome-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science...


Read more at: Mike Murphy receives the Derek Willoughby Medal from the William Harvey Research Institute at Queen Mary, University of London
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Mike Murphy receives the Derek Willoughby Medal from the William Harvey Research Institute at Queen Mary, University of London

1 July 2025

On 25 June, Mike Murphy received the Derek Willoughby Medal from the William Harvey Research Institute at Queen Mary, University of London and gave a lecture at the William Harvey Research Institute's annual research day. This medal is awarded every two years for outstanding contribution to inflammation science. Previous...


Read more at: CSAR PhD Student Award for MBU Student Lucia Luengo Gutierrez
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CSAR PhD Student Award for MBU Student Lucia Luengo Gutierrez

1 July 2025

Congratulations to Lucia Luengo Gutierrez, who has been selected for an award from the Cambridge Society for the Application of Resarch (CSAR) . The CSAR PhD Student Awards of £1,000 each, are intended to recognise outstanding research with real world application and to assist students to pursue their research or careers...


Read more at: Judy Hirst awarded European Research Council Advanced Grant
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Judy Hirst awarded European Research Council Advanced Grant

17 June 2025

Congratulations to Professor Judy Hirst , who has been awarded an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council (ERC). Judy's grant is for the energy-converting mechanism of a modular biomachine: Uniting structure and function to establish the engineering principles of respiratory complex I. Advanced Grants may be...


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