How stress harms your cells' energy factories (mitochondria)
Molecular Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Mitochondrial Damage
This project looks at how cellular stress makes mitochondria stop producing energy, with the aim of helping people who suffer tissue damage after strokes or heart attacks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319727 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will study the tiny power plants inside cells (mitochondria) to see how high calcium and reactive oxygen species make their membranes leaky and cause energy failure. They will measure mitochondrial membrane potential, swelling, and ATP production using experiments in cell and tissue models and likely animal models. The team will focus on the molecular events that open the mitochondrial permeability transition pore and lead to cell death. Findings are intended to point to molecules or pathways that could be targeted to protect tissue in stroke or heart attack.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who have had or are at high risk for stroke or heart attack and who might later consider joining trials aimed at preventing tissue injury.
Not a fit: People without conditions linked to mitochondrial injury—for example those not affected by stroke, heart attack, or related ischemic diseases—are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to protect tissue and reduce damage after stroke or heart attack.
How similar studies have performed: Prior lab studies have linked mPTP opening to cell death and shown benefit from some interventions in animals, but translating those findings into effective human treatments has been limited so far.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neginskaya, Maria a — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Neginskaya, Maria a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.