My Mito Mission is supporting an exciting research project at UCL that aims to deepen our understanding of mitochondrial disease and explore new possibilities for treatment. We believe that looking beyond mitochondrial disease itself, and exploring connections with other conditions, could help accelerate discoveries and bring us closer to effective treatments for people affected by mitochondrial disease. Here, post-doctorate researcher Elena Britti explains how the project is exploring these connections and what she hopes it will achieve.

What attracted you particularly to this opportunity?
From my undergraduate studies onward, my research career has been driven by a deep enthusiasm for mitochondrial research. In fact, I consider myself a ‘Mitochondriac’. Recently, I spent some time working outside mitochondrial research, and that experience made me realise how much I missed it. This opportunity allowed me to return to the research area I am most passionate about, while contributing to a project with potential to improve patients’ lives.

What do you look forward to most about working with Antonella, and the project in general?
Working with Antonella Spinazzola means working alongside someone who is incredibly hardworking, creative, and genuinely passionate about mitochondrial research. I’m excited to learn from her and to make discoveries together. What particularly excites me about this project is that we are looking at links between conditions that are usually studied separately, such as rare mitochondrial diseases and Parkinson’s disease.

Can you explain this research project in simple terms, for somebody who might not know much about science?
Some individuals with rare mitochondrial diseases can develop symptoms that resemble Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that typically occurs later in life. We want to understand what connects these two conditions. By taking skin cells donated by patients with these rare diseases and reprogramming them into the type of brain cells affected in Parkinson’s disease, we can investigate what is happening inside those cells. We will then compare them with brain cells made from people with Parkinson’s disease. By looking for common changes between the two, we hope to uncover what links these conditions and identify new ways of treating them in the future.

Why would you say this research is important right now?
We have known for some time that there is a connection between mitochondrial function and Parkinson’s disease, but there is still a lot we don’t know about that connection. Rare diseases can inform common forms of neurodegeneration, so we have an opportunity to make discoveries that could benefit both groups of patients. My Mito Mission recognises that mitochondria play a role in many different diseases and provides the support needed for pilot studies like this one.

How do you measure progress in a project where results may take a long time?
For me, progress isn’t measured only by the final result. Every experiment, every new piece of data, and every question we answer brings us one step closer to understanding the mechanisms of diseases. Research takes time, but consistent effort towards a final goal, collaborations with other scientists, and learning from others are what lead to meaningful discoveries. As an infinite puzzle to solve, you enjoy the process. You may never see the infinite puzzle completed; however, it’s incredibly rewarding to know you’ve helped reveal a much bigger picture.

How does your work fit into the bigger picture of research happening globally?
Mitochondria are involved in far more diseases than people often realise. My work aims to connect the dots between genetic forms of mitochondrial diseases and Parkinson’s disease. By connecting diseases that are usually studied separately, we have the opportunity to make discoveries that could have a much broader impact. This knowledge could eventually allow us to repurpose treatments developed for rare mitochondrial diseases to benefit Parkinson’s patients and vice versa, as well as discover new therapeutic targets for both groups of patients along the way.