Understanding why certain cells fail, and how we can protect them is one of the most important questions in mitochondrial disease research.
With support from Mito Foundation donors, Dr Daisy Shu is working to answer this question through a new research program exploring how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to eye disease.
Dr Daisy Shu is a Scientia Senior Lecturer at the UNSW School of Optometry and Vision Science.
After completing postdoctoral training at Harvard University, Dr Shu returned to Australia to establish her own lab, and was awarded her first research grant through Mito Foundation.
This funding came at a pivotal moment, enabling her to launch a new research direction focused on mitochondrial disease and vision.
Find out more about our research and medical grant program here.
The research focus
Dr Shu’s work centres on epigenetic reprogramming, the process by which cells switch genes on and off.
This process plays a critical role in:
-
how cells produce energy
-
how they respond to stress
-
and ultimately, whether they survive or fail
In mitochondrial disease, where energy production is impaired, understanding these mechanisms is essential to developing new therapies.
Support from Mito Foundation donors enabled Dr Shu and her team to move quickly from concept to meaningful progress.
With this funding, the team was able to:
-
Generate strong proof-of-concept data
-
Establish new collaborations with leading institutes including Centre for Eye Research Australia and Harvard
-
Build momentum for a new research program focused on mitochondrial eye disease
These are critical early steps, creating the foundation needed to secure larger grants and expand into future studies.
In conversation with Dr Shu
To better understand the impact of this work, we asked Dr Shu about her research and what this grant has made possible.
In one sentence, why did this grant matter to you?
This grant was especially meaningful as it was my first grant after returning to Australia to establish my lab following postdoctoral training at Harvard. It enabled me to launch my own research on how mitochondrial dysfunction drives eye disease.
What was the most important achievement?
We generated strong proof-of-concept data and established new collaborations with leading institutes including the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) and Harvard to advance our mitochondrial research.
What would you say to donors who made this possible?
I am deeply grateful. Your support enables early-stage, high-impact research that lays the foundation for future breakthroughs in mitochondrial disease and vision loss.
Why does epigenetic reprogramming matter for mitochondria?
Epigenetic reprogramming refers to how cells switch genes on and off, and this process directly influences mitochondrial energy production, stress responses, and overall cell survival.
How will this proof-of-concept help future studies?
These early findings provide the critical foundation needed to secure larger grants, expand into disease models, and accelerate the development of mitochondria-targeted therapies for eye disease.
Back the next breakthrough in mitochondrial disease
Help early-career scientists turn promising ideas into breakthroughs for diagnosis, treatment, and cures.
