Mitochondrial disease (mito) is a debilitating genetic disorder that robs the body's cells of energy, causing multiple organs to dysfunction or fail. It is highly complex and takes many forms.

The following information will help you understand mito and the support services and resources available to help you. It is not intended as a substitute for your medical practitioner’s advice.

Key Services

Call the Mito Helpline to talk to a support officer for general advice, assistance in seeking a referral or more information on Mito Foundation support services.

Our dedicated Patient Pathways Nurse will work with you to develop a tailor-made care plan to provide support, education and connection with other services.

 Attend a support event in your local area or online, including Information Days, Mito Meet-ups and Mito Connect Calls to keep you informed and connected.

The Mito Registry collects important information about Australians with confirmed or suspected mito for the purpose of research into treatments and cures.

Link to Mitochondrial Disease Information Fact Sheet

Mitochondrial Disease Information

Fact Sheet

Within this fact sheet, you’ll find an explanation of mitochondrial disease including symptoms, who it affects, and the complications with diagnosis and treatment options.

Link to Making Mito Mighty: Finding treatments for mito Video

Making Mito Mighty: Finding treatments for mito

Video

At a Melbourne Mito Information Day, Cameron McKnight discussed how he has used human stem cell models of mitochondrial disease to study promising drug treatments for heart muscle cells.

Link to Diagnostics changes from genomics and new technology Video

Diagnostics changes from genomics and new technology

Video

At a Perth Mito Information Day, Prof. David Thorburn provided an overview of the causes of mitochondrial disease and how the diagnostic process has been changed by genomics and other new technologies.

Link to Genetic Diagnosis of Mitochondrial Disease Fact Sheet

Genetic Diagnosis of Mitochondrial Disease

Fact Sheet

This fact sheet outlines the benefits of obtaining a genetic diagnosis of mitochondrial disease. It includes relevant case studies and is a useful document to provide to your GP and specialists.

Link to Mitochondria from Basic Biology to Mechanism of Mitochondria Video

Mitochondria from Basic Biology to Mechanism of Mitochondria

Video

At a 2020 Mito Information Day, Dr Diana Stojanovski breaks down the biology of mito to explain what happens when someone is diagnosed with the illness.

Link to Mitochondrial disease update: testing and treating Video

Mitochondrial disease update: testing and treating

Video

In this video, Dr Matthew Lynch (Senior Neurology Fellow) provides an update on the developments in mito treatment and testing.

Link to Genetic Testing for Mitochondrial Disease Fact Sheet

Genetic Testing for Mitochondrial Disease

Fact Sheet

This fact sheet explains the purpose of genetic testing for mito. It details what is tested, the potential costings and the meaning of the test results.

Link to Genetics and Mito Fact Sheet Page

Genetics and Mito

Fact Sheet Page

All your physical features are controlled by your genes, which you inherited from your parents. Genetic changes can lead to diseases such as mitochondrial disease.

Link to Novel Therapies in Mitochondrial Disease Video

Novel Therapies in Mitochondrial Disease

Video

At a Mito Information Day, Dr Michelle Lipke spoke about novel therapies in the treatment of mito.