Mitochondria Signaling in Physiology and Disease
Feb 09–12, 2026 | Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO, United States
Scientific Organizers:
Navdeep S Chandel and Aleksandra Trifunovic
In Person
On Demand
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Feb 09–12, 2026 | Keystone Resort, Keystone, CO, United States
Scientific Organizers: Navdeep S Chandel and Aleksandra Trifunovic
Navdeep S Chandel, PhD
Northwestern University
Navdeep Chandel, Ph.D., is a prominent researcher in the field of mitochondrial biology. He is a professor at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, where he focuses on understanding the role of mitochondria beyond their traditional function as the “powerhouse of the cell.” Dr. Chandel’s research has advanced our understanding of mitochondria as signaling organelles and deepened our knowledge of the metabolic needs for tumor growth and the role of mitochondria in cancer. One of his notable findings is the antitumor effects of the widely used anti-diabetic drug metformin. Dr. Chandel has been recognized for his contributions to biomedical sciences, receiving the 2023 Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences. His work continues to impact various fields, including immunology, with direct implications for addressing cancer and metabolic diseases. Dr. Chandel has organized multiple conferences over the past 20 years including Keystone Symposia meetings (2010 Hypoxia, 2014 Tumor Metabolism) and Cell Symposia meetings (2015 Mitochondria, 2022 Metabolite in Signaling and Disease).
Aleksandra Trifunovic, PhD
University of Cologne
Aleksandra Trifunovic, Ph.D., is a distinguished researcher in mitochondrial biology at the University of Cologne, where she leads a lab focused on mitochondrial diseases and aging. Dr. Trifunovic’s research has highlighted the role of mitochondria in controlling immunity and inflammation, which are essential insights for developing treatments for mitochondrial dysfunction and understanding aging-related diseases. Dr. Trifunovic was elected as an EMBO member in 2024 and received the Max Delbrück University of Cologne Research Award in 2025 for her outstanding contributions to research. She has served on many organizing committees for mitochondrial meetings including the EuroMit 10 meeting in 2017.
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In Person
On Demand
***Meeting program subject to change.
Available Formats: = In Person = On DemandMonday, February 9, 2026
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Registration
4:00–8:00 PM
Longs Peak Foyer
Welcome Mixer
6:00–8:00 PM
Longs Peak Foyer
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Quandary Peak
Welcome Remarks
8:00–8:10 AM
Grays Peak
Keynote Address
8:10–9:00 AM
Grays Peak
* Aleksandra Trifunovic, University of Cologne
Session Chair
Session Chair
Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara, University of Helsinki
Lessons Learned from Patients with Mitochondria Mutations for Physiology and Diseases
Lessons Learned from Patients with Mitochondria Mutations for Physiology and Diseases
Mitochondria Signaling in Neuroscience
9:00–11:15 AM
Grays Peak
* Aleksandra Trifunovic, University of Cologne
Session Chair
Session Chair
Elena Ziviani, Università degli Studi di Padova (University of Padua)
Targeting Mitophagy in Parkinson's Diseases
Targeting Mitophagy in Parkinson's Diseases
Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas, University of Copenhagen
Mitochondrial Dependent Inflammation in Parkinson's Disease
Mitochondrial Dependent Inflammation in Parkinson's Disease
Navdeep S Chandel, Northwestern University
Mitochondrial Function in Neurons
Mitochondrial Function in Neurons
Panagiota Kolitsida, University of California Los Angeles, UCLA
Short Talk: Mfn2 Mutations Causing The Peripheral Neuropathy CMT2A Impair Mitochondrial Calcium Release And Mitophagy, With Potential Downstream Effects On Axonal Degeneration
Short Talk: Mfn2 Mutations Causing The Peripheral Neuropathy CMT2A Impair Mitochondrial Calcium Release And Mitophagy, With Potential Downstream Effects On Axonal Degeneration
Coffee Break
9:30–9:50 AM
Longs Peak Foyer
Poster Setup
11:15–1:00 PM
Quandary Peak
On Own for Lunch
11:15–5:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Symposia Spotlight 1: Signals Linking Mitochondria to Cell Function
2:30–4:30 PM
Grays Peak
* Janine Santos, NIEHS, National Institutes of Health
Session Chair
Session Chair
Dipayan Chaudhuri, University of Utah
EFHD1 Transduces Ca2+-dependent Mitochondrial Fission to Drive Hepatocyte Injury in Metabolic Liver Disease
EFHD1 Transduces Ca2+-dependent Mitochondrial Fission to Drive Hepatocyte Injury in Metabolic Liver Disease
Dustin Hancks, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Mitochondrial ETC Activity Licenses Temporal Progression of Immune States at the Proteome Level
Mitochondrial ETC Activity Licenses Temporal Progression of Immune States at the Proteome Level
Xin Jie Chen, SUNY Upstate Medical University
Mitochondrial Precursor Overaccumulation Stress as a Novel Mechanism of Proteostatic Signaling Affecting Tissue Mass Homeostasis
Mitochondrial Precursor Overaccumulation Stress as a Novel Mechanism of Proteostatic Signaling Affecting Tissue Mass Homeostasis
Shi Su, Brigham and Women's Hospital/ Harvard Medical School
ATP-Citrate Lyase in Hepatic Stellate Cells: Evidence for Signaling from Mitochondria to the Nucleus in Liver Fibrogenesis
ATP-Citrate Lyase in Hepatic Stellate Cells: Evidence for Signaling from Mitochondria to the Nucleus in Liver Fibrogenesis
David Tandio, University of Copenhagen
Adipocyte Ketogenesis Fuels Thermogenic Metabolism Via Cytosolic acetyl-CoA Generation
Adipocyte Ketogenesis Fuels Thermogenic Metabolism Via Cytosolic acetyl-CoA Generation
Lily Baek, Baylor college of medicine
At the Crossroads of Metabolism and Inflammation, Mitochondrial DNA Transcription is a Novel Therapeutic Vulnerability of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
At the Crossroads of Metabolism and Inflammation, Mitochondrial DNA Transcription is a Novel Therapeutic Vulnerability of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Larissa Govers †, University of Zurich
The Metabolic Consequences of a Chronic Response to Hypoxia on Mitochondrial Metabolism in Photoreceptor Cells
The Metabolic Consequences of a Chronic Response to Hypoxia on Mitochondrial Metabolism in Photoreceptor Cells
Eloïse Marques, MRC Mitochondrial Biology Unit
An Inherited mtDNA Mutation Remodels Inflammatory Cytokine Responses In Macrophages and In Vivo
An Inherited mtDNA Mutation Remodels Inflammatory Cytokine Responses In Macrophages and In Vivo
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Longs Peak Foyer
Mitochondria Control of Inflammation
5:00–7:00 PM
Grays Peak
* Elena Ziviani, Università degli Studi di Padova (University of Padua)
Session Chair
Session Chair
Phillip West, The Jackson Laboratory
Mitochondrial DNA as a Signal for Inflammation
Mitochondrial DNA as a Signal for Inflammation
María Mittelbrunn, Molecular Biology Center, CSIC
Mitochondria Regulate Inflammaging
Mitochondria Regulate Inflammaging
Lena Pernas, University of California, Los Angeles and HHMI
Host Mitochondria-Pathogen Interactions
Host Mitochondria-Pathogen Interactions
Jay H Chung, NHLBI, National Institutes of Health
Short Talk: VDAC1 is Mitochondrial Redox Sensor That Promotes NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation And Liver Inflammation
Short Talk: VDAC1 is Mitochondrial Redox Sensor That Promotes NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation And Liver Inflammation
Rachel L Doser, Colorado State University
Short Talk: Mitochondria-derived Double-stranded RNA May Trigger Neuroinflammation in Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
Short Talk: Mitochondria-derived Double-stranded RNA May Trigger Neuroinflammation in Brain Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Poster Session 1
7:30–10:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Quandary Peak
Mitochondrial Dependent Stress Responses
8:00–11:00 AM
Grays Peak
* Dave Pagliarini, Washington University in St. Louis
Session Chair
Session Chair
Aleksandra Trifunovic, University of Cologne
Regulation of Mitochondrial Stress Responses
Regulation of Mitochondrial Stress Responses
Michelle F Clasquin, Pfizer, Inc.
Mitochondrial Defects in Chronic Disease
Mitochondrial Defects in Chronic Disease
Andrew G. Dillin, University of California, Berkeley
Mitochondrial Stress Responses in Aging
Mitochondrial Stress Responses in Aging
Jose Antonio Enríquez, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares / Centro de Investigaciones Biomedical e Red en Fagilidad y Envejecimieto saludable
OxPhos Heterogeneity to Cope with Mitochondrial Stress
OxPhos Heterogeneity to Cope with Mitochondrial Stress
Peter M Douglas, UT Southwestern Medical Center
Short Talk: Mitochondrial Lysine Restriction via Lysosomal Retention Modulates Respiration and Resilience
Short Talk: Mitochondrial Lysine Restriction via Lysosomal Retention Modulates Respiration and Resilience
Maulik Patel, Van Andel Institute
Short Talk: Signaling Via a Mitochondrial Metabolite Regulates a novel tRNA Mediated Nuclear-To-Mitochondrial Anterograde Response
Short Talk: Signaling Via a Mitochondrial Metabolite Regulates a novel tRNA Mediated Nuclear-To-Mitochondrial Anterograde Response
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
Longs Peak Foyer
Award Recipient Acknowledgement
9:20–9:25 AM
Grays Peak
Poster Setup
11:00–1:00 PM
Quandary Peak
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Poster Viewing
1:00–10:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Career Roundtable
1:45–2:45 PM
Grays Peak
Panel: Challenges Targeting Mitochondria for Therapy
3:00–4:30 PM
Grays Peak
* Jan Riemer, University of Cologne
Panel Moderator
Panel Moderator
* Andrew G. Dillin, University of California, Berkeley
Panel Moderator
Panel Moderator
Liron Bar-Peled, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Mike P. Murphy, Medical Research Council
Michelle F Clasquin, Pfizer, Inc.
Anu Suomalainen Wartiovaara, University of Helsinki
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Longs Peak Foyer
Mitochondrial Respiration Dependent Signals
5:00–7:00 PM
Grays Peak
* María Mittelbrunn, Molecular Biology Center, CSIC
Session Chair
Session Chair
Prashant Mishra, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Multi-organ disease caused by human TOMM7 mutations
Multi-organ disease caused by human TOMM7 mutations
Dave Pagliarini, Washington University in St. Louis
Regulation of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain
Regulation of Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain
Reuben J. Shaw, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies
Mitochondrial Dependent AMPK Activation
Mitochondrial Dependent AMPK Activation
Lin Yuan, UCSF
Short Talk: Mitochondrial Activity Tunes Nociceptor Resilience to Excitotoxicity
Short Talk: Mitochondrial Activity Tunes Nociceptor Resilience to Excitotoxicity
Richard G. Kibbey, Yale University
Short Talk: Phosphoenolpyruvate Is The High Energy Switch Transforming Mitochondria From Furnaces Into Factories To Treat Obesity
Short Talk: Phosphoenolpyruvate Is The High Energy Switch Transforming Mitochondria From Furnaces Into Factories To Treat Obesity
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Poster Session 2
7:30–10:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Breakfast
7:00–8:00 AM
Quandary Peak
Mitochondria Metabolite Signaling
8:00–11:00 AM
Grays Peak
* Lena Pernas, University of California, Los Angeles and HHMI
Session Chair
Session Chair
Kivanc Birsoy, Rockefeller University
Mitochondrial Glutathione as a Signaling Molecule
Mitochondrial Glutathione as a Signaling Molecule
Janine Santos, NIEHS, National Institutes of Health
Mitochondrial Metabolites Regulate Epigenetics
Mitochondrial Metabolites Regulate Epigenetics
Pekka Katajisto, Karolinska Institutet
Mitochondrial alpha-ketoglutarate and Aging
Mitochondrial alpha-ketoglutarate and Aging
Marcia C. Haigis, Harvard Medical School
Mitochondria and Aging
Mitochondria and Aging
Derek Zachman, Duke University Medical Center
Pathway Coessentiality Mapping Reveals Complex II is Required for de novo Purine Biosynthesis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Pathway Coessentiality Mapping Reveals Complex II is Required for de novo Purine Biosynthesis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Yafeng Li, UT Southwestern
Short Talk: Loss of TCA Cycle Turning Promotes Stem Cell Function
Short Talk: Loss of TCA Cycle Turning Promotes Stem Cell Function
Coffee Break
9:00–9:20 AM
Longs Peak Foyer
On Own for Lunch
11:00–5:00 PM
Symposia Spotlight 2: Tools to Probe Mitochondrial Biology
2:30–4:30 PM
Grays Peak
* Phillip West, The Jackson Laboratory
Session Chair
Session Chair
Haopeng Xiao, Stanford University
Covariation Mass Spectrometry Uncovers a Protein That Controls Cysteine Catabolism
Covariation Mass Spectrometry Uncovers a Protein That Controls Cysteine Catabolism
Mario Escobar, Rice University
CRISPR/Cas-based Activation of PPARGC1A Boosts Endogenous Mitochondria and Enhances Cardiac Function and Recovery after Myocardial Infarction
CRISPR/Cas-based Activation of PPARGC1A Boosts Endogenous Mitochondria and Enhances Cardiac Function and Recovery after Myocardial Infarction
Iria Trasobares Magdalena, University College London
Novel Regulator of PINK1/Parkin-Dependent Mitophagy Identified Using Artificial Intelligence and siRNA Screens in the Context of Parkinson’s Disease
Novel Regulator of PINK1/Parkin-Dependent Mitophagy Identified Using Artificial Intelligence and siRNA Screens in the Context of Parkinson’s Disease
Abigail V Giles, National Institutes of Health
Rapid Repolarization of the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential following Ischemia-Reperfusion in the Isolated Mouse Heart
Rapid Repolarization of the Mitochondrial Membrane Potential following Ischemia-Reperfusion in the Isolated Mouse Heart
Pol Castellano Escuder, Heureka Labs
Systematic Functional Annotation of Orphan Mitochondrial Genes Reveals Novel Coordinators of OXPHOS and Stress Response Signaling
Systematic Functional Annotation of Orphan Mitochondrial Genes Reveals Novel Coordinators of OXPHOS and Stress Response Signaling
Riley Wedan, Van Andel Institute
Uncovering the Dynamics of NDUFAB1 Acylation in Mammals
Uncovering the Dynamics of NDUFAB1 Acylation in Mammals
Ben Reddan, UCD
Activity Based Sensing of CO2 using CarboSenR2 Sensor To Monitor Mitochondrial Metabolism
Activity Based Sensing of CO2 using CarboSenR2 Sensor To Monitor Mitochondrial Metabolism
Emily DeBitetto, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Investigating Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Regulation During Human Cortical Neurogenesi
Investigating Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number Regulation During Human Cortical Neurogenesi
Coffee Available
4:30–5:00 PM
Longs Peak Foyer
Mitochondrial ROS Signaling
5:00–6:45 PM
Grays Peak
* Navdeep S Chandel, Northwestern University
Session Chair
Session Chair
Jan Riemer, University of Cologne
Mitochondrial Redox Dependent Protein Folding
Mitochondrial Redox Dependent Protein Folding
Liron Bar-Peled, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Decoding Mitochondrial Dependent Cysteine Oxidation
Decoding Mitochondrial Dependent Cysteine Oxidation
Mike P. Murphy, Medical Research Council
Targeting Mitochondrial ROS in Health and Disease
Targeting Mitochondrial ROS in Health and Disease
Won Dong Lee, Yonsei University
Short Talk: Mitochondrial ROS Link Nutrient Excess to Systemic Insulin Resistance
Short Talk: Mitochondrial ROS Link Nutrient Excess to Systemic Insulin Resistance
Meeting Wrap-Up: Outcomes and Future Directions (Organizers)
6:45–7:00 PM
Grays Peak
Social Hour with Dinner
7:00–8:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Entertainment
8:00–9:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Cash Bar
8:00–9:00 PM
Quandary Peak
Friday, February 13, 2026
Departure
12:00–11:59 PM
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