Incubator Grants

Eligible applications are reviewed by the Scientific and Medical Advisory Panel, a panel made up of Australian experts recognised for their contributions to research and health care for mito. If the panel makes a positive funding recommendation, the application is forwarded to the Mito Foundation Board of Directors for final approval.

Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:

1. Impact and benefit to the mito community (25%)
2. Novelty and innovation of research proposal (25%)
3. Quality, soundness of methodology, and feasibility (20%)
4. Track record of research team and quality of research environment (20%)
5. Value for money (10%)

1. Mito Foundation funds high-quality and impactful research into primary mitochondrial disease (mito).
2. All applications are subject to expert peer review.
3. All successful applications are subject to reporting and compliance requirements as indicated in the funding agreement.
4. Mito Foundation funding cannot be used to cover on-costs, infrastructure or other indirect costs.

Mito Foundation recognises the impact of research within and beyond the academic environment. Read our Impact areas and indicators guideline for more information.

For research directly involving mito community members, we encourage researchers to consider some key aspects of mito as they plan their work. Read our Understanding mito for researchers guide for more information.

2026: Professor David Mackey, Lion's Eye Institute, University of Western Australia
Defining the Prevalence and Clinical Impact of Pathogenic Mitochondrial DNA Variants in Australian Adults.

2026: Dr Daniel Urrutia-Cabrera, Centre for Eye Research Australia
Study of Nanoparticle-Induced Mitochondrial Biogenesis to Treat Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON).

2026: Dr Matthew Challis, Monash University
Investigating the Role of Pro-Inflammatory mtDNA Release in an In Vitro Model of Leigh Syndrome.

2026: Dr Thomas Nicholls, Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research
Mapping mitochondrial DNA replication disease using single-molecule sequencing 

2025: Dr Jared Campbell, University of New South Wales, Australia
Immunomodulatory CAR Treg cell therapy: a novel intervention for Leigh syndrome

2025: Dr Alison Compton, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia
Using functional genomics approaches to understand the pathomechanisms behind autosomal dominant LONP1-linked mitochondrial disease

2025: A/Prof Julia Pagan, University of Queensland, Australia
Tracking mitochondrial genome instability through
replication profiling

2025: Dr Matthieu Ruiz, Montreal Heart Institute Research Centre, Canada
AAV-based Gene Therapy for Leigh Syndrome French Canadian (LSFC)

2025: Dr Yilin Kang, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Australia
Unravelling the Impact of Environmental Stressors on Mitochondrial Disease to Develop Innovative Interventions and Therapeutic Solutions

2025: Dr Travis Johnson, La Trobe University, Australia
Targeting Mitochondrial Hydrogen Sulfide Toxicity in Ethylmalonic Encephalopathy

2025: Dr Julien Zanin, University of Melbourne, Australia
Characterisation of Auditory Dysfunction in Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: A Longitudinal and Cross-Sectional Analysis

2025: Prof Johan Van Hove, University of Colorado Denver, USA
An Improved Mitochondrial Biogenesis Upregulation Strategy for Nuclear DNA Encoded Primary Mitochondrial Disorders Using Drug Repurposing

2025: Dr David Manser, University of Sydney, Australia
Genomic and Mitochondrial Biomarker Characterisation in Late-Onset Multiple Acyl-CoA Dehydrogenase Deficiency (MADD)

2024: Dr Nina Bonekamp, University of Heidelberg, Germany
Understanding choroid plexus impairment in mitochondrial disease – novel implications for neuroinflammation and neurogenesis?

2024: Dr Alessandro Prigione, Heinrich Heine University, Germany
Building cortico-striatal assembloid models of Leigh syndrome

2024: Dr Daisy Shu, A/Prof Bruce Ksander, Prof David Mackey, A/Prof Raymond Wong, Prof. Alex Hewitt, University of New South Wales, Australia
Enhancing mitochondrial function through epigenetic reprogramming in a stem cell model of LHON​ (Australia)

2024: Dr Laura Smith and Prof Robert McFarland, Newcastle University, UK
Using a novel human neuronal-glial cell model to investigate the causes, consequences, and treatments for POLG-related mitochondrial epilepsy

2024: Dr Franceso Turco, University of Pisa, Italy
Steady State Visual Evoked Potentials recorded with hd-EEG to reveal cortical excitation/inhibition imbalance in individuals with m.3243A>G mutation

2024: Dr Kristina Xiao Liang, University of Bergen, Norway
Uncovering Microglia's Impact on Mitochondrial Diseases: Advancing Understanding of Neuroimmune Response and Neural Impairment (Norway)

2023: Prof David Mackey, University of Western Australia, Australia
Understanding the genetic, environmental, hormonal and other factors that could trigger vision loss from Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (Australia)

2023: Dr Aye Moe and Dr Oksana Pogoryelova, Newcastle University, UK
Computerised Neurocognitive Assessment in Adult Patients with Mitochondrial Disease

2022: Dr Monika Olahova, Newcastle University, UK
Delineating mitochondrial pathology using a genome-wide CRISPR activation screen

2022: Dr Julia Pagan, University of Queensland, Australia
Inhibition of autophagy in FBXL4-associated mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome

2022: Dr Diana Stojanovski, University of Melbourne, Australia
CLPB deficiency and ‘3-methylglutaconic aciduria with cataracts, neurologic involvement and neutropenia’ (MEGCANN)

2021: Dr Jared Campbell, University of New South Wales, Australia
Evaluating mitochondrial dysfunction in patients with mitochondrial disease by hyperspectral imaging of urine exfoliated cell autofluorescence

2021: Dr Alexis Diaz, University of Sydney, Australia
Development of a novel mouse model for studying COXPD31

2021: Dr Richard Lee, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, Australia
Characterisation of a novel CRLS1 variant in multi-system mitochondrial disease pathogenesis using a custom multi-omics diagnostic platform

2021: Dr Elena Tucker, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia
Identifying the genetic cause of primary mitochondrial disorders via the study of premature ovarian insufficiency

2021: Dr Raymond Wong, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Australia
Development of regenerative therapy for Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy

2020: Dr Sylvie Callegari, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Australia
Defining ubiquitin quality control systems for mitochondrial biogenesis

2019: Dr Diana Stojanovski, University of Melbourne, Australia
Regulation of one carbon metabolism in Sengers syndrome

2018: Dr Vijay Rajagopal, University of Melbourne, Australia
Could stem-cell derived tissue cultures replace animal models for drug screening in primary mitochondrial disease?

2015: Dr Anthony Dona, Kolling Institute, Australia
Global Metabolic Profiling of Mitochondrial Diseases: A Novel Metabolomics Approach to Diagnose and Differentiate between Mitochondrial Diseases using Human Serum and Urine

2015: Prof Mike Ryan, Monash University, Melbourne
A Drug Screening Approach to Rescue OXPHOS Defective Cells

2014: Dr Ryan Davis, Kolling Institute, Australia
FGF-21 in mitochondrial disease diagnosis and pathophysiology

2014: Dr Matthew McKenzie, MIMR-PHI, Australia
Generation of new mouse models of mitochondrial DNA disease

2014: Prof Justin St John, MIMR-PHI, Australia
Preventing the transmission of mutant mitochondrial DNA

2014: Dr David Stroud, Monash University, Melbourne
Molecular diagnosis of human mitochondrial disease through proteomic approaches

2014: Dr Bi-xia Ke, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia
Treatment trials in the Ndufs6gt/gt mouse model of mitochondrial Complex I deficiency

2014: Dr Raymond Wong, Centre for Eye Research Australia, Australia
Genome-wide expression analysis of human induced pluripotent stem cell model of Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy