ERC Consolidator Grant Awarded to Kurt Schmoller for Mitochondrial DNA Research
Dr. Kurt Schmoller from the Institute of Functional Epigenetics at Helmholtz Munich has been awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant. This significant recognition supports outstanding mid-career researchers in pursuing ambitious, high-impact projects while fostering their scientific independence. Kurt Schmoller’s project, MITOSIZE, will explore how cells regulate mitochondrial DNA levels and the crucial role this balance plays in maintaining cell health and preventing disease. By securing a total of 61 ERC grants to date, Helmholtz Munich has cemented its reputation as one of Europe’s foremost research institutions.
Unlocking the Secrets of Mitochondrial DNA
Mitochondria, often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell, depend on multiple copies of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) to produce energy, making its precise regulation essential for cell survival. Recent research by Kurt Schmoller and his team has shown that the amount of mtDNA increases in proportion to cell volume, maintaining stable concentrations during cell growth and proliferation. Through MITOSIZE, Schmoller aims to uncover the molecular basis of this coordination of mtDNA copy number and cell size. To test whether this regulation of mtDNA is conserved across different organism, he will use two evolutionary distant model organisms, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and algae (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). The project could also pave the way for new strategies to tackle mtDNA misregulation, which is linked to many diseases.
“Our research will combine molecular biology, live-cell imaging, and computational modeling to explore how cells achieve mtDNA homeostasis, and how it adapts to changing environments,” said Kurt Schmoller. “By disrupting the coupling of mtDNA copy number and cell volume, we will examine their respective roles in cell function, aging, and disease.”
About the ERC Consolidator Grants
The ERC Consolidator Grant is a funding instrument from the European Research Council, aimed at supporting researchers who have established themselves as independent scientists. It provides substantial financial support for ambitious, high-impact projects that push the boundaries of knowledge across all scientific disciplines. The grant enables researchers to strengthen their teams, advance their research, and make meaningful contributions to their fields. The project MITOSIZE is funded by this grant with nearly 2 million euros.
