Organizer Profile
Aleksandra Trifunovic

Aleksandra Trifunovic

Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany

Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Trifunovic and her research group are investigating mitochondrial stress responses and the cell’s corresponding adaptive reactions. By deciphering the signaling cascades, they are seeking to understand the pathomechanisms of mitochondrial diseases and develop new therapeutic approaches. The group has recently started collaborating with Khondrion, one of the first European companies aiming to develop drugs to treat mitochondrial diseases. Prof. Dr. Trifunovic’s group will focus on evaluating the therapeutic effects in model organisms.

Our research: The team led by Prof. Aleksandra Trifunovic is investigating the function of mitochondria in the development of disease and during aging. When mitochondria experience stress or when dysfunction occurs, they send signals to the cell nucleus, which launches different types of adaptive cell responses. Transcription factors are activated and stimulate the expression of specific sets of genes, whose products enable the cell to adapt to the changes. The scientists aim to understand this signaling cascade in detail.

Our successes: The group has successfully advanced research approaches that focus on the communication between mitochondria and other parts of the cell. Causative treatment for mitochondrial disease is not yet available. Since mitochondrial dysfunction affects metabolism in general, serious illness and early death can result. Recently, the group has shown that mitochondrial dysfunction is sensed independently of respiratory chain deficiency, questioning the current view on molecular mechanisms contributing to the development of mitochondrial diseases.

Our goals: The group’s main focus is on deciphering the precise signaling cascade of the pathogenic mechanisms leading to mitochondrial diseases, with the ultimate goal of identifying new therapeutic targets.
CONFERENCES AND COURSES