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Fundamental Topics in Mitochondrial Biology: Round Table Discussions

In this round table discussion, conference attendees will be divided into 15 tables, each focusing on a different topic. Discussion leaders will be appointed a month prior to the conference. Attendees will be assigned to a topic on the first day of the conference, during the check-in at the welcome table.


The round table discussion will take place Friday Dec. 8th 2:30 - 3:10 PM


Topics will include:

  • Mitochondria motility & dynamics:

    • Moderator: Fernanda Cerqueira ( Mitochondria Emotion Inc.)

    • Speaker 1: Aydin Halil (University of Colorado Boulder)

    • Speaker 2: Yasemin Sancak (University of Washington)


  • Cellular energy expenditure as a therapuetic target

    • Moderator: Ambre Bertholet (UCLA)

    • Speaker 1: Jason Bazil (Michigan State University)

    • Speaker 2: Katsu Funai (University of Utah)


  • Adipose tissue remodeling & mitochondrial lipid droplet interaction

    • Moderator: Jameel Dennis (Rivus Pharmaceuticals)

    • Speaker 1: Laurent Vergenes (UCLA)

    • Speaker 2: Babu V. Sepuri Naresh (University of Hyderabad)


  • Mitophagy and mitochondrial quality control

    • Moderator: Karel Erion (Capacity Bio)

    • Speaker 1: Katarzyna Goljanek-Whysall (University of Galway)

    • Speaker 2: Zhenqi Zhou (UCLA)


  • Mitochondria involvement in aging

    • Moderator: Rick Tsai (LUCA Science Inc.)

    • Speaker 1: David Walker (UCLA)

    • Speaker 2: Anthony Covarrubias (UCLA)

    • Speaker 3: Robert Musci (Loyola Marymount University)


  • Obesity & Diabetes

    • Moderator: Debbie Thurmond (City of Hope)

    • Speaker 1: Lu Geming (City of Hope)

    • Speaker 2: Matthew Merrins (University of Wisconsin-Madison)


  • Mitochondria and the Immune system

    • Moderator: Ajit Divakaruni (UCLA)

    • Speaker 1: Julia Mack (UCLA)

    • Speaker 2: Timonthy Shutt (University of Calgary)


  • Neurodegeneration

    • Moderator: Kammy Moalemzadeh (Arcadia Investment Partners)

    • Speaker 1: Lindsay M. De Biase (UCLA)

    • Speaker 2:  Elizabeth Videlock (UCLA)

    • Speaker 3: Kathy Rodgers (University of Arizona)


  • Redox signaling

    • Moderator: Patrice Rioux (Thiogenesis Therapeutics)

    • Speaker 1: Marc Liesa (Molecular Biology Institute of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC)

    • Speaker 2: Mehdi Yeganeh (Laval University)


  • Mitochondria and the Eye

    • Moderator: Alfredo Sadun (UCLA Stein/DOHENY Eye Institute)

    • Speaker 1: Nan Hultgren (UCLA Stein Eye Institute)

    • Speaker 2: Nan-Kai Wang (Columbia University)


  • Mitochondria and Cancer

    • Moderator: Brianna Dalesandro (Rivus Pharmaceuticals Inc.)

    • Speaker 1: David Shackelford (UCLA)

    • Speaker 2: Laura Huela (University of Montreal)

    • Speaker 3. Neema Jamshidi (UCLA)


  • Biomarkers for Clinical Studies

    • Moderator: Jonas Hannestad (Capacity Bio)

    • Speaker 1: Anu Suomalainen (University of Helsinki)

    • Speaker 2: David Brown (Stealth BioTherapeutics)


  • Respiratory Chain Physiology & Pathophysiology

    • Moderator: Cristiane Benincá (UCLA)

    • Speaker 1: Alena Zikova (Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences)

    • Speaker 2: Rebeca Acin-Perez (Enspire Bio)


  • Mitochondrial Calcium in Physiology & Disease

    • Moderator: György Hajnóczky (Thomas Jefferson University)

    • Speaker 1: María Castromonte (Thomas Jefferson University)

    • Speaker 2: Arijita Ghosh (Thomas Jefferson University)


  • Mitochondria in Cardiovascular Diseases

    • Moderator: Erbu Erbay (Cedars-Sinai)

    • Speaker 1: Thomas A. Vallim (UCLA)

    • Speaker 2: Jake Lusis (UCLA)



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