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Kristopher Burkewitz

Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (CDB)
Program in Developmental Biology (PDB)
Cellular, Biochemical, and Molecular Sciences (CBMS) Training Program


The Burkewitz lab is interested in combating age-onset diseases like neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes by understanding and targeting their common risk factor: the aging process itself.  A combination of molecular genetic, biochemical and imaging approaches allows us to study interventions such as dietary restriction, which extends lifespan in a variety of animal models. In particular, we focus on understanding aging and longevity at the level of organelle function and cell architecture.

The Burkewitz lab is interested in combating age-onset diseases like neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes by understanding and targeting their common risk factor: the aging process itself.  A combination of molecular genetic, biochemical and imaging approaches allows us to study interventions such as dietary restriction, which extends lifespan in a variety of animal models. In particular, we focus on understanding aging and longevity at the level of organelle function and cell architecture.

Keywords: aging , mitochondria , cell biology , molecular genetics , microscopy , neuroscience

Research Area: Cell Signaling , Cell Structure , Developmental Neuroscience , Diabetes, Obesity, Metabolism , Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation , Proteomics/Metabolomics