Dr Anna Karłowicz, assistant at the Department of Structural Biology of the Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology UG and MUG, has received the prestigious EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant! The funding will enable her to undertake a research internship at the Radboud Centre for Mitochondrial Medicine in Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

The scientist will be able to conduct advanced research at one of Europe's leading centres for mitochondrial biology and develop international cooperation.

‘Mitochondria are essential for energy production in cells, and the stability of their DNA (mtDNA) is crucial for human health,’ says dr Anna Karłowicz. ‘Errors in mtDNA replication and repair are associated with serious diseases, and progress in this field has so far been limited by the lack of detailed structural data on native complexes. By combining gentle isolation methods with cryo-electron microscopy, I intend to bring a new perspective on how replication and repair processes are coordinated in mitochondria.’

The project is being carried out in collaboration with dr Hans Spelbrink from the Radboud Centre for Mitochondrial Medicine, allowing researchers to combine their expertise in cell biology, mtDNA metabolism and structural biology.

EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organisation) is a prestigious organisation bringing together over 1,800 outstanding scientists in the field of life sciences. Its mission is to support scientific excellence through fellowship programmes, grants, courses and initiatives that foster the development of young researchers and strengthen global scientific networks. The EMBO Scientific Exchange Grant programme aims to support international scientific collaboration and the transfer of knowledge and expertise between laboratories.