February 8, 2015
Correspondence: Heidi M McBride heidi.mcbride@mcgill.ca
Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, 3801 University Avenue, Rm 622C H3A 2B4, Montreal H3A 0G4, QC, Canada
BMC Biology 2015, 13:8 doi:10.1186/s12915-015-0120-x
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Collaborate
Most of us are not geniuses, and cannot operate with an encyclopaedic knowledge of metabolism, calcium homeostasis, tissue physiology, bioenergetics and lipid chemistry. On the other hand, clinician scientists or physiologists who hope to incorporate mitochondria into their signalling paradigms feel overwhelmed with the complexity of the organelle, the experimental approaches, and sometimes, the dogma common to such established fields. The first step is an obvious one - forge meaningful collaborations that will truly push the field forward. I think we are finally past the point where non-mitochondrial scientists simply write us off, assuming that the mitochondria are a known entity, uninteresting, boring. Indeed the potential for fundamental new concepts in mitochondrial function has never been higher, and the disease relevance is clear. Mitochondrial pathways are practically untouched as a therapeutic target, for example.
For those of us working on the fundamental aspects of mitochondrial function, we must work harder to consider the physiology of real tissues. I’m not suggesting we abandon our fundamental projects, certainly not! Basic discoveries will remain the lifeblood of clinical development. But with collaborations we can extend our studies simultaneously and move into ‘real’ cells. Adapting these models will more rapidly push our discoveries up the ladder of biomedical translation. My own collaborations have provided me with confidence and helped me to understand complex physiologies that would otherwise have not crossed my radar screen. It sounds obvious, but funding agencies and promotion mechanisms do not always reward collaborations enough. Grants need a single principal applicant and team grants can be more political than functional. It is also clear that collaborations are more difficult than simply continuing along a successful, independent track. However, understanding the complexities of mitochondrial function and signalling will require open, and sometimes challenging, collaborations.
The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1741-7007/13/8
There is an interesting video on Youtube about mitochondria!! - "Power Pack - The Mitochondria Rock Song"
image source: Blame it On Your Mother
