MMN - The Mitochondrial Medicine & Neurogenetics group

The Mitochondrial Medicine & Neurogenetics (MMN) group is a clinical and research unit devoted to the diagnosis, study and treatment of inherited neurological diseases with special focus on mitochondrial disease.

This image shows three brain scans (A, B, and C) using dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging. The bright areas show where a radioactive tracer has been taken up, which reflects the health of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Scan A is from a healthy person and shows strong, symmetrical dopamine activity. Scan B is from a person with Parkinson’s disease and shows reduced activity in these areas. Scan C is from a patient with a POLG gene mutation and shows even more severe loss of dopamine activity.
This image shows three brain scans (A, B, and C) using dopamine transporter (DAT) imaging. The bright areas show where a radioactive tracer has been taken up, which reflects the health of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain. Scan A is from a healthy person and shows strong, symmetrical dopamine activity. Scan B is from a person with Parkinson’s disease and shows reduced activity in these areas. Scan C is from a patient with a POLG gene mutation and shows even more severe loss of dopamine activity. These scans help doctors and researchers understand how different diseases affect the brain’s dopamine system. Photo: Tzoulis et al., Brain 2013.

Affiliation

About the research group

Our team consists of clinical and basic scientists with a wide range of skills and expertise in the fields of clinical neurology, biochemistry, molecular and population genetics.

The Mitochondrial Medicine & Neurogenetics (MMN) group includes the Centre for Mitochondrial Medicine, a highly specialised unit dedicated to the investigation, diagnosis and follow-up of patients with mitochondrial disorders.

The major research areas within the MMN group are mitochondrial disease and movement disorders, including parkinsonism, dystonia and ataxia. We conduct multidisciplinary, translational research that include clinical and laboratory studies, as well as studies of animal models. For more details see our “Research” section.

Our goal is to promote better diagnosis and treatment of inherited neurological diseases by conducting state of the art research that will elucidate disease mechanisms and define new treatments.

Cartoon depicting the structure of the pol-γ holoenzyme. The catalytic subunit (pol-γA) is blue and the accessory subunits (pol-γB) green and pink (pdb 3IKM)
This cartoon shows the structure of the DNA polymerase gamma (pol-γ) holoenzyme, which is important for copying mitochondrial DNA.The blue part is the catalytic subunit (pol-γA) – it does the actual DNA copying.The green and pink parts are accessory subunits (pol-γB) – they help the enzyme work more efficiently.This structure is based on protein data (PDB 3IKM). Photo: Lee at al., 2009

Projects

Publications

People

Group manager

Omar Hikmat Leader

Contact

The Mitochondrial Medicine & Neurogenetics group is situated at Neuro-SysMed, Center of Excellence for Clinical Research in Neurological Diseases, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway.

Address: Gamle Hovedbygning Haukeland sykehus, Jonas Lies vei 87, P. O. Box 7804, 5021 Bergen, Norway.

Emails
omar.hikmat@uib.no