Decoding How Mitochondria Drive Inflammation
Supervisors:
Prof Stephen Tait, University of Glasgow
Dr Emma Kerr, Queens University Belfast
Summary:
Mitochondria are best known as the cell’s powerhouses, but they also play a critical role in controlling inflammation. When mitochondria become damaged, they can act like invading bacteria, triggering immune responses that contribute to ageing, infection, and cancer.
This PhD project will investigate how damaged mitochondria switch on inflammation and how this process is linked to mitochondrial metabolism. We will explore the molecular signals that alert cells to mitochondrial damage, including the release of mitochondrial DNA and activation
of key proteins involved in cellular defence.
Understanding how mitochondria control inflammation could reveal new ways to reduce harmful inflammation in age-related diseases and improve cancer treatment. The findings could also provide broader insights into how cells respond to damage and infection, with
potential relevance across a range of diseases.