The Czech-Norwegian joint project focused on discovering specific mitophagy biomarkers across Alzheimer’s Disease continuum
In September, Dr. Veverova and Assoc. Prof. Vyhnalek attended the ADDIT-CE workshop in Brno. The workshop was primarily focused on basic research with topics such as stem-cell based models in AD research, Abeta self-assembly, mechanical stress on axons and more. Dr. Veverova presented results from the MitAD project during the invited lecture The role of mitophagy in AD pathophysiology.
On 18-19 September 2023, the MitAD team co-organized the 1st Norway-UK joint meeting on aging and dementia in Oslo, hosted by Evandro F. Fang (the University of Oslo and Akershus University Hospital, Norway), Lynne Cox (University of Oxford, UK) and Richard Siow (King’s College London, UK). The meeting was opened by educational and political leaders of the two nations, including Prof. Per Morten Sandset (Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation of the University of Oslo), Clare Filshie (Deputy Head of Mission from the British Embassy in Oslo), and Øystein Lund (Counsellor for Research and Education from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London). Assoc. Prof. Vyhnalek and Dr. Veverova presented their findings from the MitAD project entitled Alterations of human CSF and serum-based mitophagy biomarkers patients from Czech Brain Aging Study (CBAS). The meeting attracted over 40 experts and scholars from 13 countries, including China, Denmark, Greece, Japan, Norway, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others. They gathered to share the latest research findings on various aspects of global ageing and to engage in discussions and workshops on topics including mechanisms of human ageing (such as genetic risk factors, DNA damage and repair, mitophagy and autophagy, etc), connections between ageing processes and disease, and promoting a healthy ageing environment. including. Importantly, discussions included potential interventions to reduce biological ageing and translation of research findings into clinical application.
Assoc. Prof. Evandro F. Fang visited the Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University in Prague in June. During his visit, he delivered his famous lecture on novel mechanisms activating ‘garbage cleaning’ (mitophagy) from the brain at the Department of Neurology. It was an excellent opportunity for clinicians to learn new approaches to preventing aging and Alzheimer’s disease. On this occasion, he gave an interview to a hospital magazine, Motol IN, intended for patients and the general public.
You can find the issue with the article “Removing brain ‘garbage’ as a pathway to healthy brain” online here (Motol IN č.7-8/2023).
Here we provide the original version in English:
EFF: It was such a big honour as a laureate of the National Association for Public Health’s Dementia Research Prize for 2023 presented by H.M. King Harald V of Norway. This is among the most prestigious awards in the science fields in the Scandinavian countries, and is to give recognition to researchers or clinicians who have contributed significantly to the understanding or treatment of dementia. Such a big award to a young research, it really encourages me to work harder on the way to find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease, the most common dementia worldwide.
EFF: Mitochondria are the powerhouses of our body and mitochondria are dynamic (fusion and fission) and fragile. It has been reported in both laboratory and clinical studies that interventions like exercise and healthy diet can improve mitochondrial numbers and quality. Exercise and healthy diets are public accessible approaches to work with.
EFF: I have been working in Hong Kong (4 years), Baltimore in the USA (6 years), and Oslo (Norway, almost 6 years). I have had great and positive experiences in studying and living in these charming cities. Speaking of science they are different: the working speed is Hong Kong is very fast and professional; in the USA, the research competitive is very high and among the highest quality; in Norway, the funding is very decent and the research environment is open and thus one can have a great balance of life and scientific career.
EFF: To set up a goal of your career, and based on this goal to develop your training plans and to rich your CV. Definitely, in such a world with international competition in most scientific jobs, we need to work hard in a happy way. A key to make us happy is to choose the career that one really love.
EFF: Our 2019 paper on Nature Neuroscience is considered a milestone on targeting defective mitophagy as a druggable target for Alzheimer (with more than 800 citations since 2019). Since then great efforts by many other labs and us have done on the mechanistic studies of defective mitophagy in Alzheimer as well as on the development of novel drug candidates for Alzheimer. Some novel mitophagy-inducing molecules show great anti-Alzheimer activity in laboratory models and human iPSC-derived cellular systems; furthermore, these molecules are bioavailability, with favoured pharmacokinetics, and some can pass the blood-brain barrier. Thus, the most pressing question is to test them in clinical trials for Alzheimer.
EFF: Alzheimer’s is likely a group of diseases which make it challenging to find a drug to cure all individuals with Alzheimer’s. The exciting news on the 25-35% efficacy in reducing memory loss of newly developed anti-Abeta antibodies bring us hope. Targeting on offsetting defective mitophagy may show a more profound benefit as it could reduce many risks/causes of Alzheimer’s (Nature Review Drug Discovery Turning up mitophagy in Alzheimer disease – PubMed (nih.gov))
Welcome to join us the 1st Norway-UK meeting on ageing and dementia on 18-19 Sep. 2023!
We are pleased to invite you to this exciting meeting, where scientists from the most prestigious universities will share their research on aging and dementia. Assoc. Prof. Evandro F. Fang is an organizer of this event, where Assoc. Prof. Martin Vyhnalek and Dr. Katerina Veverova will present the results of the MitAD project on mitophagy biomarkers in the AD continuum.
Registration is not required and attendance at all events will be free of charge.
On-line attendance https://uio.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XBxzUlSqTEOGwnYawHH7BQ
More info: https://noage100.com/
Our team had the great opportunity to present our preliminary results of the MitAD project at AAIC 2023 in Amsterdam. We enjoyed talking to researchers from all over the world and sharing our exciting discoveries on mitophagy across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum. Just like we enjoyed the informal time with the whole Czech Brain Aging Study (CBAS) team.
Assoc. Prof. Evandro F. Fang gave an excellent lecture on novel mechanisms activating ‘garbage cleaning’ (mitophagy) from the brain at the Department of Neurology, Second Faculty of Medicine in Prague. It was a great opportunity for clinicians to learn new approaches to preventing aging and AD. Also, we had some time to explore Czech cuisine and nature.
It is our pleasure to announce that Assoc. Prof. Evandro F. Fang will be a host of seminars at the Neurological Clinic of the Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, with his lecture on “Cleaning the `brain garbage’ to improve cognition and quality of life in elderly”.
Ageing affects us all – come and learn more about it! The accumulation of damaged mitochondria is a hallmark of aging and Alzheimer’s disease. But did you know that the molecular mechanisms of this disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis, and their relationship to Alzheimer’s disease, are still unclear? Learn about the latest scientific hypotheses available on this mechanism. Mitophagy is a cellular self-cleaning process that removes damaged mitochondria and therefore plays a critical role in maintaining neuronal homeostasis and neuronal survival. What can lead to defective mitophagy?
Find out on Thursday, June 15th at the library of the Neurological Clinic.
The lecture is intended for the general professional public. Undergraduate and postgraduate students, and experts from the fields of medicine, natural science, and psychology are very welcomed.
This month, Czech readers can learn about healthy aging and the role of mitophagy in aging and Alzheimer’s disease prevention. In the popular Czech journal “Květy” you can find an interview with Assoc. Prof. Martin Vyhnalek, the principal investigator of MitAD grant.
