Northwestern University
Mitochondria control of physiology and disease
Mission of the lab is to discover new biology linked to mitochondria and metabolism that controls physiological responses and diseases including cancer, viral pneumonia, neurological diseases (Parkinson’s, ALS, and Alzheimer) and aging. A key aspect of this mission is also to train the next generation of “discoverers” in a supportive environment.
Lab News
2023-08-10
Chandel Receives 2023 Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences
Navdeep Chandel, PhD, the David W. Cugell, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care and of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, has been named a recipient of the 2023 Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH).
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For more information about the Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences and a list of previous winners, please visit fnih.org/LuriePrize.
2020-09-08
Understanding Mitochondrial Dysfunction's Impact on Neurological Diseases
Dr. Chandel discusses a recent study that may improve the understanding of mitochondrial dysfunction and its impact on the development of neurological diseases. The study, led by Greg McElroy, also suggests that targeting mitochondrial complex I linked biology could be a promising therapeutic target for neurological diseases.
2023-08-09
Mitochondria Regulate Cellular Signaling for Proper Lung Development
Northwestern Medicine investigators have discovered that mitochondria regulate essential cellular signaling for the development of epithelial cells in the lungs, cells which are crucial for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide to avoid respiratory failure, according to findings published in Nature.
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2020-07-23
Mitochondrial Metabolism Shows Promise as Target for Cancer Therapy
Dr. Chandel discusses recent publications in the lab demonstrating the essential role of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in tumorigenesis and potential therapeutic avenues for targeting mitochondrial metabolism in the clinic.
2022-11-30
Highly Cited Researchers List 2018-2022
Twelve faculty with appointments at Feinberg, including Nav Chandel, were named to the 2022 “Highly Cited Researchers” list, published by Clarivate Analytics. The annual list identifies investigators who have demonstrated significant influence in their field through the publication of highly cited publications during the last decade.
The data in the list is pulled from papers published in science and social sciences journals from 2011 through 2021. The list includes those investigators who rank among the top one percent as the most cited for their subject field and year of publication.
Podcasts
2024-04-18
Using Metabolism to Improve Skin Aging and Hair Loss
Metabolism has a direct impact on aging and the way we look. On today’s episode, we discuss the current research around metabolism with experts Dr. Heather Christofk and Dr. Navdeep Chandel and dive into hair follicle stem cell activation, a lesson on hyaluronic acid from naked mole rats, and the complexity of addressing oxidative stress and the skin’s extracellular matrix.
2018-12-03
Metabolism, Mitochondria, and Metformin in Health and Disease
In this podcast episode of The Peter Attia Drive, Navdeep Chandel, PhD discusses the role of mitochondria and metabolism in health and disease. Nav also provides insights into the mitochondria as signaling organelles, antioxidants, and Metformin's multifaceted effects on human health, among many topics related to well-being.
2024-01-17
Why Drug Developers Have a Growing Interest in Targeting Mitochondria
Mitochondria are often referred to as the “powerhouses” of the cell, but as scientists gain a greater understanding of these essential organelles, they are coming to discover they play a more expansive role in health and disease. The Foundation for the National Institutes of Health named Navdeep Chandel a co-recipient of the 2023 Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences for his research that revealed how mitochondria function as signaling organelles that control the body’s normal functions and impact diseases, including cancer and inflammation. We spoke to Chandel, professor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care and of biochemistry and molecular genetics at the Feinberg School of Medicine, about the state of our understanding of mitochondria, why drug developers are pursuing therapies to target mitochondria across a broad range of diseases, and the need for a concerted effort to conduct fundamental research to better understand the biology of this organelle.
2018-05-05
The Return of Metabolism
In Episode #226 of SmartDrugSmarts, Dr. Chandel shares his research into the subcellular world of mitochondria, ATP, the Krebs Cycle — and how these esoteric interests translate up into real-world lifespan and quality-of-life differences for us big, adult mammals.
2023-10-11
How Mitochondria Inform Disease Discoveries with Navdeep Chandel, PhD
Mitochondria are widely known as cellular “powerhouses” for their role in producing energy for cells. But pioneering research from Northwestern Medicine investigators over the last 20 years has proven mitochondria are also major players in lung disease, cancer, brain disease and immune-related diseases. Navdeep Chandel, PhD, a 2023 recipient of the Lurie Prize in Biomedical Sciences by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, leads this research. In this episode he discusses how his team’s recent findings could advance the design and implementation of new therapies.