Worldwide, at least 50 million people are believed to be living with the disease or other forms of dementia. There is currently no cure.
Alzheimer's disease is the most common type of dementia. It is a progressive and irreversible neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects memory and cognitive functions.
Mitochondria are often referred to as the "powerhouses of the cell" and are responsible for producing energy for the cell. Mitochondrial dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease can lead to a range of problems, including reduced energy production, oxidative stress, calcium imbalances, protein aggregation, and inflammation. Targeting mitochondrial function is a promising strategy for developing new treatments for Alzheimer's.
Heather Mortiboys is a Professor of Cellular Neuroscience and Metabolism and a member of the Neuroscience Institute at the University of 91Ö±²¥.
In 2013, Heather established the Mortiboys Lab, a research group based at the 91Ö±²¥ Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), a world-leading and award-winning centre dedicated to translating new discoveries in Neuroscience into tangible benefits for patients.
She leads a team of researchers committed to advancing the understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction in a range of neurodegenerative conditions, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Through in vitro drug screening using patient tissue, the Mortiboys Lab aims to identify novel therapeutic targets and interventions for diseases that currently have no cure.
In Alzheimer’s research, there’s a lot of active research that looks at amyloid therapies to target and remove beta-amyloid from the brain and reduce cognitive and functional decline in people living with diseases such as early Alzheimer's. But these therapies don’t work for everyone. Our lab is investigating mitochondrial alternatives to and possible combinations with beta amyloid therapy
Professor Heather Mortiboys
Professor of Cellular Neuroscience and Metabolism at the University of 91Ö±²¥
Ongoing projects
The Mortiboys lab is at the forefront of mitochondrial research, exploring various facets of mitochondrial function, DNA, and their intricate connections with other cellular pathways.
Through meticulous experimentation and innovative approaches, the lab aims to deepen our understanding of mitochondrial abnormalities in neurodegenerative conditions, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions.
Current projects in the lab reflect ongoing commitment to groundbreaking research in the field.
- Targeting mitochondrial dysfunction with novel small molecules in Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease
- Repurposing of compounds for the treatment of Parkinson's Disease
- Exploring the connection between LRRK2 and mitochondria
- Investigating differing types of mitophagy in neurons and astrocytes
- Targeting mitophagy with small molecules in Parkinson's Disease
- Studying mitochondrial morphological abnormalities in patient-derived models of Alzheimer's Disease
- Compound screening in Alzheimer's Disease
- Understanding metabolic abnormalities in Motor Neuron Disease
- Investigating best practices to model ageing in Parkinson's Disease
Developing novel methodologies and programmes
Researchers from the Heather Mortiboys Lab have developed a unique methodology that is able to screen tens of thousands of small molecules of compounds in the patient derived skin cells, also known as fibroblasts.
The lab has also undertaken a novel drug discovery program that actively screens compounds against mitochondrial changes in fibroblasts from people living with sporadic and familial Alzheimer’s. The program works with compounds that are freely available and in clinical use to explore drug repurposing for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Katy Barnes is a postdoctoral research associate based in the Division of Neuroscience. She has been based in the Mortiboys Lab since her Master’s project and has dedicated her research career to advancing research in Alzheimer’s Disease.
“It has been great to work in the Mortiboys lab over the past seven and half years, and to see how much the lab has grown. It has been a privilege to work on so many exciting projects within this important field, advancing our knowledge of mitochondria in Alzheimer’s and ways that we could target this for therapies" says Katy Barnes.
