We are proud to announce that Dr. Manoj Saxena, a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology from Prof. Gabriel Waksman’s lab at Birkbeck, University of London, has been selected for the highly competitive Ember programme by Renaissance Philanthropy, powered by its activation partnership with the UK’s Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA).
Dr. Saxena’s project was chosen for its bold and high-impact vision: designing artificial mitochondria using a combination of protein structure prediction, cell-free expression systems, and structural biology. This work sits at the cutting edge of translational bioscience and aligns with Ember’s mission to advance “Big If True” ideas-those with the potential to transform science and society but that fall outside traditional institutional frameworks.
Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in numerous devastating conditions, including stroke, neurodegeneration, aging, and inherited mitochondrial diseases. While mitochondrial transfer is a promising therapeutic strategy currently under global investigation, a reliable and scalable source of functional mitochondria remains a major hurdle. Dr. Saxena’s proposed research aims to address this by developing synthetic models of mitochondria thus creating new platforms for disease modelling and, potentially, a low-cost, bioengineered source of mitochondria for therapeutic use. Prof. Amandine Marechal, an expert in mitochondrial structural biology, will serve as Dr. Saxena’s local ISMB mentor, offering subject-specific guidance.
This ambitious project not only advances the frontier of synthetic biology but also holds real promise for tackling some of the most intractable health challenges of our time. Over next 6 month, through the Ember programme, Dr. Saxena will receive funding, mentoring, and access to a unique network of researchers working on the future of science and innovation in the UK.
We warmly congratulate Dr. Saxena on this achievement and look forward to this important milestone in his career.