Finnish Research Unit for Mitochondrial Biogenesis and Disease (FinMIT)

University of Tampere and University of Helsinki
Headed by Professor Howard Jacobs
tel. +358 3 215 7731 or howy.jacobs@uta.fi

Centre of Excellence Homepage

Research at FinMIT is aimed at gaining an understanding at the basic level of the mechanisms behind mitochondrial disorders. This information will be used in exploring the unknown biological mechanisms that in normal cells are involved in the maintenance of mitochondrial DNA and its expression. Applying model organisms, the unit's object is to establish the mechanisms involved in mitochondrial deafness and to identify the nuclear genes that cause mitochondrial diseases. A further object is to identify normal cell components that are related to the maintenance of mtDNA in human cells and tissue and to establish the role of these mechanisms in normal tissue ageing and in degenerative diseases. Furthermore FinMIT aims to understand the mechanisms of the Leigh syndrome and to develop supportive therapies.