Developing a novel approach to study cardiac mitochondria in health and right-heart failure

Mitochondria are often called the "powerhouse of the cell" because they provide the energy needed for life. In diseases where energy supply and demand are out of balance, mitochondria become a key focus for research and treatment. However, current methods for studying mitochondria may change their natural behaviour and structure because these techniques require breaking mitochondria apart or damaging the surrounding muscle tissue.

We believe that these disruptions impair mitochondria’s ability to produce energy efficiently. The PhD project aims to understand how mitochondria work in healthy hearts and how they fail in heart disease. We propose a new approach that allows mitochondria to function naturally within intact muscle tissue, which allows us to study mitochondria under different workloads without damaging their structure. The study will also explore the therapeutic potential of targeted cardiac energy efficiency in a right-heart failure rat model. By improving research techniques and exploring new findings, this project will generate new knowledge about the detrimental effects of mitochondrial dysfunction in heart failure.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in bioengineering or biomedical sciences
• Experimental physiology would be desirable
  

This project is eligible for funding but is subject to eligibility criteria & funding availability.

Page expires: 11 March 2026