Molecular biology of mitochondria, mitochondrial genetics in human diseases, molecular pathology of neurodegenerative diseases

 My independent group at the University of Miami was established in 1993 and one of its main focus in the last decade has been the study of mitochondrial defects neurodegenerative processes. We have used patients cells and genetically modified mice to create models of mitochondrial disorders associated with defects in either nuclear of mitochondrial DNA. We are also focused on developing genetic treatments to mitochondrial DNA disorders, namely using mitochondria-targeted nucleases to eliminatyed mutated mtDNA.