We all are impacted by, and reap the benefits of, medical research discoveries. From over-the-counter drugs, to healthcare policies and educational interventions, many of these advancements are a result of incredible feats, decades of work, and sometimes serendipitous events. Join us as we sit down with Harvard researchers to discuss these captivating behind-the-scenes stories of research.
September 18, 2024
Investigating Mitochondria
It’s well known that mitochondria are the powerhouse of the cell, but research shows they can also offer new insights into how cells maintain their metabolic balance, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies to help fight diseases. Marjana Ndoci, MSc, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, shares her research on this topic.
Read Transcript
Marjana Ndoci, MSc, is originally from Albania and Greece, and completed her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in the Department of Biological Applications and Technology at the University of Ioannina in Greece. During her studies, she was awarded the Erasmus Studies Fellowship, allowing her to conduct her diploma thesis at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing. There, she delved into the molecular mechanisms underlying ageing. In 2023, Ndoci was accepted into the Max Planck Graduate School in Germany. She established a collaboration between the labs of professor Andreas Ladurner of Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, and Nora Kory, PhD, assistant professor of molecular metabolism at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She joined the Kory Lab as a PhD student. Her research focuses on deciphering the tethering factors of mitochondrial contact sites and understanding their role in metabolic compartmentalization. By studying these intricate connections, Ndoci aims to uncover new insights into how cells maintain their metabolic balance, potentially leading to novel therapeutic strategies.