Center for BioEnergetics

The health of every living organism is dependent on metabolism, a basic process of life that captures and releases the energy contained in foods we eat to help fuel the body. Within nearly every cell type in the body are tiny, pill-shaped structures called mitochondria. These are the powerhouses for the cells, allowing proper growth, enabling the organs and muscles of the body to function effectively, and providing us with the energy needed for good health. Defects in mitochondrial function can result in serious, often fatal, diseases.

The Center for BioEnergetics, directed by Sidney Hecht, PhD, focuses on improved diagnoses and treatments for diseases caused by impaired energy metabolism. The majority of these diseases are degenerative and affect children and young adults. They include heart, liver or kidney disease; diabetes; poor growth; loss of muscle function; vision and hearing problems; developmental delays or mental retardation; respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders; and dementia. So in addition to impacting children, impairment to the mitochondria has been implicated as a factor in aging. It is associated with Parkinson's disease, atherosclerotic heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. On the other end of the spectrum, optimal mitochondrial function has been linked with peak physical performance, such as that exhibited by top athletes.

Dr. Hecht has more than three decades of experience in academic and industrial research positions as a biological chemist and drug designer, and also serves on the boards of several biotech companies. In 2005, he co-founded Edison Pharmaceuticals with Dr. Guy Miller.  The company focuses on drugs for inherited mitochondrial diseases. Due to widely ranging symptoms and early lack of understanding of the root cause of these symptoms, mitochondrial diseases have historically been classified into discreet groupings of diseases, such as Friedreich's Ataxia, that are relatively rare. This meant little effort has been put into drug discovery and treatment.  Yet, together, the more than 40 mitochondrial diseases comprise a significant human and health care burden.