The new project focuses on "Transplantation of mitochondria for studying their impact on adipogenesis”. The highly multidisciplinary team from Switzerland and the UK will develop a creative approach to transplant mitochondria from specific subcellular localization of donor cells into stem cells that lack mitochondria.
The project aims to understand how mitochondria from different cellular environments influence the production of fat cells called adipocytes. The team will use cutting edge fluidic force microscopy, single cell sequencing, native mass spectrometry and sophisticated cell biological disease models to show how information flow between mitochondria and its partner organelles in the cell controls adipocyte differentiation. The results will have direct relevance for mechanism-based interference with metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
Robin is an Associate Professor of Physiological Metabolism here at DPAG. He is an expert in lipid metabolism. His lab focuses on mechanisms by which cells control lipids through information flow between mitochondria and other organelles at membrane contact sites.
Robin comments, "It is an absolute honour to receive this prestigious award from the CZI and I can’t wait to start this exciting project"
The funding has been awarded via the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Donor Advised Fund (CZI-DAF).
The grant programme will be formerly launched by bringing together all investigators in person in Redwood City, California in February 2024.