The Mitochondrial Research Group (MRG)
The Mitochondrial Research Group MRG is one of the largest and most successful groups of its kind in the world. Key to this success has been the diversity of interest in all things mitochondrial.
The MRG is underpinned by a foundation of research in basic mitochondrial biology including mitochondrial genetics, biochemistry and pathophysiology, but translational and conventional clinical research are emerging themes.
The MRG has attracted substantial research funding from UK bodies such as the MRC and Wellcome Trust, as well as European (EUmitocombat / Mitocircle) and US (NIH) funding.
The group benefits greatly from an extremely close working relationship with the National Commissioning Group Diagnostic Service for Rare Mitochondrial Diseases, which is located within the MRG labs. Cohorts, families and individual patients continue to make a huge contribution to the clinical and basic science research undertaken in the MRG and translational research projects are now providing a genuine reciprocal benefit for patients.
Research Projects
The MRG currently has a wide range of important research projects in progress. These include:
- pronuclear transfer,
- investigation of the mitochondrial DNA genetic bottleneck,
- antigenomic treatment strategies,
- mechanisms and machinery of mitochondrial DNA transcription and translation,
- exploration of nuclear-mitochondrial interaction and evolutionary genetics.
While many of these research projects are directly relevant to brain functioning and neurological disorders none are more so than the role of mitochondria in brain ageing, neurodegenerative diseases and multiple sclerosis. Several research projects are exploring mitochondrial involvement in normal brain senescence, the development of conditions such as Parkinson's disease and the dementias, and the role of mitochondria in the development and evolution of inflammatory lesions in multiple sclerosis.
