Introduction to the MRIG

Mitochondria are the gatekeepers of the life and death of most cells in the body and regulate signaling, metabolism, and energy production needed for cellular function.  Recent scientific studies show that mitochondrial dysfunction is more commonplace than previously thought and that substantial mitochondrial involvement is present in many acute and chronic diseases.  Mitochondrial dysfunction is now implicated in a range of human diseases, including aging, diabetes, atherosclerosis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, stroke and other ischemic-reperfusion injuries, neurodegenerative diseases including Alzhiemer’s and Parkinson’s diseases; cancer, HIV; sepsis and trauma with multiorgan dysfunction or failure.  Some rare mitochondria diseases (e.g., MELAS, Kearns-Sayre) are associated with large deletions in the mitochondrial genome.  More recently, the so-called OXPHOS diseases that reflect a limited capacity to produce the energy needed to respond to normal stress conditions, were associated with genetically determined deficiencies in mitochondrial energy production.  Given the critical role of mitochondrial function under basal, moderate, or severe stress conditions, particularly in the regulation of cellular energy and the roles of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species in signaling or modifying molecular structure, discovering the fundamental mechanisms of mitochondrial function and dysfunction is a unifying theme for the development of therapeutic strategies for human health.

The vision of the MRIG is to become the leader in research on the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in human disease.  We will merge the sciences of chemistry and biology with clinical medicine in developing safe and effective mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic agents that reduce or prevent oxidative damage and enhance the efficiency of mitochondrial energy production.  The development of mitochondrial-targeted therapeutic agents will flow from our basic-science group, which has a long history of research accomplishments that have elucidated fundamental mitochondrial functions in health and disease.  The insights generated by our research group are being used to provide a rationale for the design, synthesis, and testing of novel molecules by the medicinal chemistry expertise in our group.  External, experienced pharmaceutical-industry-derived consultation on drug development, business-plan development and implementation, IP optimization, advisory board development, and identification of funding source opportunities will foster the goals of the MRIG.          

The Department of Anesthesiology in collaboration with the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology has supported the growth and development of the MRIG within the University of Rochester Medical Center in collaboration with scientists and clinicians in several departments and centers within the university since 2002.  Consistent with the significant evolution of our science and vision for the future, we have redefined the original moniker MRIG from the “Mitochondrial Research Interest Group”, to the “Mitochondrial Research & Innovation Group”.

Welcome to our web site, and if you need further information, please contact us.

Mitochondrial Research & Innovation Group
University of Rochester Medical Center
601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 711
Rochester, NY 14642
Telephone, 585-275-1679
FAX, 585-273-2652
E-mail: SheyShing_Sheu@urmc.rochester.edu

Please send your comments or suggestions about this website to Sandra E. Morgan. All other inquiries, including questions about MRIG research, should be directed to Shey-Shing Sheu, Ph.D.