World Mitochondrial Disease Week: Light up for Mito

Primary mitochondrial diseases are genetic disorders that cause dysfunction of mitochondria, the ‘batteries’ that provide energy to cells. They can affect people at any stage in life, from infancy to old age, and cause a wide range of symptoms. 

World Mitochondrial Disease Week raises awareness of mitochondrial disease (mito) on a global scale through educational, fundraising and advocacy activities. Every year in September, hundreds of buildings, landmarks and monuments around the world light up green for World Mitochondrial Disease Week, to raise awareness about mito. 

 “The London Highly Specialised Service for Rare mitochondrial Disorders is thrilled UCL will be marking World Mitochondrial Awareness Week by lighting up the UCL Portico building green, from 7pm until midnight each evening from the 20th to the 24th September.  
Mitochondrial Awareness Week is an important opportunity to highlight this group of genetic disorders, the majority of which remain incurable.” Professor Michael Hanna and Dr Rob Pitceathly (Co-leads of London NHS Highly Specialised Service for Rare Mitochondrial Disorders)

London Mitochondrial Centre 

The London Mitochondrial Centre encompasses the London NHS Highly Specialised Service for Rare Mitochondrial Disorders and its clinical and translational research activity. This link between clinic and research within the Centre is crucial.

The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, Queen Square, has a long tradition of diagnosing and treating people with mitochondrial disease. One of the first genetic causes of mitochondrial disease was identified at UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology by Professor Anita Harding, Dr Ian Holt, and Dr John Morgan-Hughes in 1988.

Today, Queen Square remains a centre of excellence in mitochondrial disease and offers a range of clinical, diagnostic, and research services.

We’re pleased to launch our new website, and twitter feed, as part of World Mitochondrial Disease Week. Dr Rob Pitceathly (Co-lead of London NHS Highly Specialised Service for Rare Mitochondrial Disorders) also features in UCL Faculty of Brain Sciences’ Meet the Expert interview this month. 

 

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Researchers from across UCL celebrate World Mitochondrial Disease Week with the lighting up of the UCL portico.