Posters List of Targeting Mitochondria 2024

More than 110 communications will be presented during Targeting Mitochondria 2024, including more than 65 posters. Access full posters list. 

Last updated on 22/10/2024

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Best Mitochondria Image 2024

Have a memorable mitochondria image?

Submit your image for a chance to win free in-person or virtual registration to the 2024 or 2025 congress.

We also welcome original artwork or drawings related to mitochondria, whether it's about life, energy, or dynamics.

Image Submission Guidelines:

To enter the contest, please submit the following information in a Word document:

1. Your name
2. Your complete affiliation
3. A picture of yourself (optional)
4. Your mitochondria image, including: A title/ A description of the image/ The context of the study

How to Enter?

Send your submissions to: mitochondria[at]wms-site.com.

Share your vision of mitochondria and stand out!

 Targeting Mitochondria 2022 Best Image 

Targeting Mitochondria 2022 Best Image Nominations.

World Mitochondria Society 2024 Keynote Speaker Day 1: Prof. Eric Schon

WMS is happy to welcome Prof. Eric Schon from Columbia University, USA, as a keynote speaker on Day 1 of Targeting Mitochondria 2024 in Berlin this October. 

Prof. Schon will deliver a presentation titled "Mitochondria in Alzheimer disease: it's not what you think"

The dominant hypothesis of Alzheimer disease (AD) pathogenesis invokes the accumulation of a cleavage product of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), called beta-amyloid, as the driver of pathogenesis. However, the poor track record of clinical trials based on this hypothesis suggests that other causes likely underlie the disease. We propose an alternative hypothesis in which a different APP cleavage product, called C99, is the main culprit, via its role as a regulator of cellular cholesterol metabolism. In AD, both C99 production and cellular cholesterol levels are increased well above normal levels, resulting in essentially all of the biochemical and clinical features of the disease. From this perspective, AD is, at bottom, a lipid disorder.

About Eric Schon

Eric Schon, a professor of Neurology and Genetics, has focused on the intricacies of mitochondrial genetics, highlighting their unique semi-autonomous nature governed by both nuclear and mitochondrial DNA. Mitochondria, once bacteria, contribute to cellular energy production through oxidative phosphorylation. Schon's research explores various inherited and sporadic mitochondrial disorders, employing innovative techniques like cytoplasmic hybrids. Recently, his focus shifted to Alzheimer's disease, uncovering heightened ER-mitochondrial communication as a potential key player in its pathogenesis, offering insights into diagnosis and treatment.

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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World Mitochondria Society 2024 Keynote Speaker Day 2: Prof. Howy Jacobs

It is with great pleasure that we welcome Prof. Howy Jacobs from Tampere University, Finland, as a keynote speaker on Day 2 at Targeting Mitochondria 2024 in Berlin this October. 

Prof. Jacobs has documented "A century of mitochondrial research, 1922–2022" in the Enzymes Book Series (2023). The chapter discussed the comprehensive research history of mitochondria, starting from their initial recognition as resembling bacteria in 1922, to their integration into cell physiology today, highlighting major advances in various scientific fields such as biochemistry, genetics, pathology, and cell biology.

Keynote Speech: "Mitochondria: More Heat Than Light?"

"Mitochondria are not just producers of ATP or clearing houses of intermediary metabolism. Here I will trace the history of how mitochondria have come to be regarded as key contributors to cell and organismal physiology, and how recent findings have opened up new chapters in our thinking" stated Prof. Jacobs.

Prof. Jacobs will discuss the implications of elevated mitochondrial temperature for evolution, development, cell signaling, immunity and pathology.

© Photo Credits: Rami Hanafi 

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Stem Cell Educator Therapy: A New Era in Mitochondrial Transfer and Regeneration

Dr. Yong Zhao, Throne Biotechnologies, will be joining Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Dr. Zhao will be sharing his latest research on stem cells and mitochondrial transfer in a talk entitled "Stem Cell Educator Therapy: A New Era in Mitochondrial Transfer and Regeneration".

Presentation Highlights

1. Stem Cell Educator (SCE) therapy is the only therapy to date to safely and efficiently correct autoimmunity and restore β cell function in recent onset T1D patients.

2. Clinical data provided the visual evidence regarding the immune education of SCE therapy, leading the long-lasting improvement of hair regrowth in subjects with moderate or severe alopecia areata (AA).

3. SCE therapy has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of patients with other autoimmune and inflammatory- or aging-associated diseases caused by mitochondrial dysfunctions, without the safety and ethical concerns associated with conventional immune and/or stem cell-based approaches.

Join us to know more! Speakers Lineup.

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Cellular Dynamics: The Synergistic Interplay of Iron, Mitochondria, and Ferroptosis in Health and Disease

Prof. Carsten Culmsee, University of Marburg, Germany, and active member of the WMS Scientific Committee will be joining Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Presentation title: Cellular Dynamics: The Synergistic Interplay of Iron, Mitochondria, and Ferroptosis in Health and Disease.

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Mitochondrial Extracellular Vesicles: Orchestrating Brain Plasticity and Recovery

Prof. Stefano Pluchino, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, will be joining Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Prof. Pluchino will be sharing his latest research on the role of mitochondrial extracellular vesicles in brain plasticity and recovery, during the session dedicated to "Emerging Trends and Strategies in Mitochondria Research".

In his talk Prof. Pluchino will cover the the following:

1. Extracellular vesicles from neural stem cells transfer IFN-g via Ifngr1 to activate Stat1 signalling in target cells
2. Extracellular vesicles are independent metabolic units delivering functional Asparaginase-like protein 1n
3. NSCs deliver functional mitochondria to target cells via EVs

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Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Mitochondria Delivery via Extracellular Vesicles to the Blood-Brain Barrier

Dr. Devika S Manickam, Duquesne University, USA, and active member of the WMS Scientific Committee will be joining Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Presentation title: Mitochondria Delivery via Extracellular Vesicles to the Blood-Brain Barrier

Highlights

• Role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communication and drug delivery.
• Incorporation of mitochondria small EVs (<200 nm) and medium-to-large EVs (m/lEVs >200 nm) EVs during biogenesis.
• Potential of m/lEVs to deliver healthy mitochondria for treating neurodegenerative, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases.
• Advantage of m/lEVs using endogenous mechanisms for cellular repair.
• Impact of ischemic stroke on mitochondrial function in blood-brain barrier endothelial cells.
• Efficacy of human brain endothelial cells (BEC) -derived mitochondria-containing EVs in mouse stroke models.
• Improved therapeutic outcomes with species-specific EVs (mouse BEC-EVs) in stroke models.
• Support for using m/lEVs to enhance therapeutic potential in preclinical studies.

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Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Mitochondrial Transplantation Mediates Improved Cellular Energy Metabolism, Restoration of Mitochondrial Function and Prevention of Cell Death

It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Mark Kindy, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs James A. Haley VA Hospital and University of South Florida, USA at Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Presentation title: Mitochondria Iron Metabolism: Mitochondrial Transplantation Mediates Improved Cellular Energy Metabolism, Restoration of Mitochondrial Function and Prevention of Cell Death

In his talk Dr. Kindy will cover:

1. Isolation and characterization of mitochondria
2. Application of mitochondrial transplantation
3. Reversal of cellular dysfunction
4. Restoration of energy metabolism

Dr. Kindy is a collaboration partner of the WMS supporter 2024 "MitoSense". About Mitosense.

Targeting Mitochondria 2024 program.

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Cracking the Code of Aging: Exploring Mitochondrial Dynamics and Organelle Connections

It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Antentor Hinton, Vanderbilt University, USA, at Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin.

Presentation title: Cracking the Code of Aging: Exploring Mitochondrial Dynamics and Organelle Connections.

Highlights

• Overview of the current understanding regarding mitochondrial structural changes during aging.
• Summary of the altered structural changes that occur with age in cristae architecture and their impact on mitochondrial calcium signaling.
• Implications of how aging modifies organelle contact communication.
• Illustration of how the MICOS (mitochondrial contact site and cristae organizing system) complex influences physiology and metabolism throughout the aging process.

More information on Dr. Hinton's latest research.

WMS 2024 Speakers Lineup. 

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Blood-Based Marker: Mitochondrial DNA Damage in Parkinson’s Disease

Dr. Laurie Sanders, Duke University School of Medicine, USA, will be joining Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Presentation title: Blood-Based Marker: Mitochondrial DNA Damage in Parkinson’s Disease

In this talk, Dr. Sanders will discuss the challenges in Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment and the need for better diagnostic tools. Mitochondrial dysfunction's role in PD's development will be highlighted, along with recent findings on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) damage. Dr. Sanders will introduce a PCR-based assay called MitoDNADX for quantifying mtDNA damage, showcasing its potential as a blood-based marker for PD. Preliminary results from patient studies and animal models will be presented, suggesting that this assay could aid in PD diagnosis and assessing the effectiveness of LRRK2 kinase inhibitors in treating the disease.

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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The Role of Mitochondria in Zika Virus Propagation: Mechanisms of Immune Evasion and Inter-Cellular Transmission

It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Indira Mysorekar, Baylor College of Medicine, USA, at Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Presentation title: The Role of Mitochondria in Zika Virus Propagation: Mechanisms of Immune Evasion and Inter-Cellular Transmission.

Highlights

• Mitochondrial dynamics in viral pathogenesis
• Use of Tunneling nanotubes for infecting neighbouring cells and siphoning mitochondria to fuel infection

More information on Dr. Mysorekar's latest research.

WMS 2024 Speakers Lineup. 

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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Dynamics of Mitochondria: Regulation of Nucleoid Morphology to Protect Mitochondrial Function

Prof. Naotada Ishihara, Osaka University, Japan, will be joining Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Presentation title: Dynamics of Mitochondria: Regulation of Nucleoid Morphology to Protect Mitochondrial Function.

Highlights

• Discuss the connection between mitochondrial dynamics (fusion/fission) and the behavior of mtDNA nucleoids within the cell.
• Mitochondrial membrane activity influences the shape and distribution of mtDNA nucleoids.
• Abnormalities in both mitochondrial morphology and nucleoid structure are linked to certain diseases.
• Expose the new methods to manipulate nucleoid structures, improving mitochondrial and cellular functions in some pathogenic conditions.

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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New Biosensing Solutions and Optimized Pharmacological Inhibitors to Counteract Mitophagy in Cancer Cells

It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Giulia Bertolin, Université de Rennes, France, at Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Presentation title: New Biosensing Solutions and Optimized Pharmacological Inhibitors to Counteract Mitophagy in Cancer Cells

Highlights

• Mitochondria play vital roles in cell physiology, and dysfunctions are implicated in diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.
• Mitochondria are closely integrated with other cellular components, impacting functions such as cell cycle regulation and ATP production.
• The talk will explore how cancer cells exploit mitochondrial functions, focusing on the cell cycle protein AURKA, which is often overexpressed in breast cancer.
• Advanced fluorescence microscopy techniques are utilized to track AURKA activation in living samples, providing insights into its role in mitochondrial function.
• Ongoing research aims to develop sensitive biosensors for monitoring mitochondrial activation of AURKA and exploring pharmacological inhibitors to alter its interaction with mitophagy partners.

WMS 2024 Speakers Lineup. 

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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The Intersection of Mitochondrial Function and Psychiatric Disorders: Biomarkers, Gene Variants, and Patient Stratification

It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Ana Andreazza, University of Toronto, Canada at Targeting Mitochondria 2024 this October in Berlin. 

Presentation title: The Intersection of Mitochondrial Function and Psychiatric Disorders: Biomarkers, Gene Variants, and Patient Stratification

Points to be covered:

1. Mitochondrial Dynamics in Health and Disease:
Explore the essential role of mitochondria in energy balance, neuronal signaling, and cellular health. Emphasize their influence on the brain and other critical organs, underlining the importance of mitochondrial health in overall bodily function.

2. Linking Mitochondrial Dysfunction to Mood Disorders:
Explore the relationship between mitochondrial dysfunction and mood disorders. Present clinical evidence showing their correlation and introduce cutting-edge mitochondrial-targeted metabolomics to improve patient classification and treatment paths.

3. Innovative Therapeutic Approaches:
Discuss advancements in mitochondrial transplantation and the creation of the MitoGENE risk score. These innovations aim to refine diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, supported by data from real-world clinical trials.

WMS 2024 Speakers Lineup. 

World Mitochondria Society 
Annual World Congress on Targeting Mitochondria
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