{"id":144347,"date":"2026-05-18T12:25:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:25:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/?post_type=bu-article&p=144347"},"modified":"2026-05-18T12:25:34","modified_gmt":"2026-05-18T16:25:34","slug":"stefan-isaac-phd-receives-maximizing-investigators-research-award","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bumc.bu.edu\/camed\/news-events\/articles\/2026\/stefan-isaac-phd-receives-maximizing-investigators-research-award\/","title":{"rendered":"Stefan Isaac, PhD, Receives Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStefan Isaac, PhD, Receives Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award<\/strong>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Research will focus on understanding the fundamental mechanisms of mitochondrial gene regulation<\/em>. <\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n
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May 18, 2026<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
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Stefan Isaac<\/a>, PhD, assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, has received a $2.1M Maximizing Investigators’ Research Award (MIRA) (R35) from the NIH National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) to fund his five-year project \u201cRegulation of mitochondrial DNA packaging and gene expression.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mitochondrial disorders are caused by defects in mitochondria, the energy-producing structures found in nearly all cells of the body. Because muscle and nerve cells have especially high energy needs, muscular and neurological problems are common features of mitochondrial disorders. Other common symptoms include impaired vision, hearing loss, abnormal heartbeat (cardiac arrhythmia), diabetes, and stunted growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Isaac\u2019s lab studies how mitochondrial DNA packaging, gene expression, and DNA replication are regulated and the mechanisms that govern the activity of this genome. His lab uses a multidisciplinary approach, combining genomics and bioinformatics, in vitro biochemistry and molecular and cell biology to understand these biological processes. Over the next five years, he will develop and apply novel sequencing-based assays to reveal how cells regulate their energy production through mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) packaging, expression, and replication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Over the next five years, he will develop and apply novel sequencing-based assays to reveal how cells regulate their energy production through mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) packaging, expression, and replication. <\/div>