Heidi McBride
McBride's research is focused on three aspects of mitochondrial function: The mechanism and function of mitochondrial fusion; the role of SUMOylation in mitochondrial fission and intracellular signaling; and the characterization of mitochondrial derived vesicles.
My research laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms and function of mitochondrial dynamics, with key projects focused on mitochondrial fusion, fission and the formation of mitochondrial derived vesicles. The overarching theme of our lab is to understand the fundamental behavior of the mitochondria, and to identify the molecular mechanisms of communication required to mediate cellular transitions, including metabolic, cell cycle, immune pathways and cell death transitions. Recent areas of research interest include mechanisms of mitochondrial quality control in neurodegeneration; the generation of inter-organellar contacts that facilitate metabolic flux; the regulation of shape changes in the mitochondria and their functional implications; and the role of the mitochondria as a unique signaling platform in the cell.
Keywords: Mitochondrial dynamics, interorganellar contacts, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, metabolism, immunology