2019
Our lab profiled in GU Journal
(15-11-2019) Some great photos and interviews with some of our lab members and collaborators from the University of Newcastle. Article available in Swedish in the University´s magazine GU Journal (p. 24-28).
Cancerfonden awards 5.25 million SEK over three years
(14-11-2019) Many children treated for cancer develop complications later in life. Could damage to mtDNA be a contributing factor? This is a question Maria Falkenberg’s group will address with this funding from the Swedish Cancer Society, with the hope of finding new treatments with fewer side effects. Many news outlets are also excited about this project, including Swedish TV, Aftonbladet, and GT Expressen.
New paper on novel pathogenic mtSSB mutations
(30-09-2019) Bertil Macao from our group contributed to a multi-group collaboration led by the Carelli and Pippucci groups that identifies novel mtSSB mutations in patients with optic atrophy spectrum disorder.
Lab presentations at the Mitochondria in Human Disease Conference
(18-09-2019) A wonderful meeting with many highlights, with great presentations from Maria Falkenberg who talked about our latest work on mtSSB disease mutants, and Örjan Persson and Majda Mehmedovic who gave poster presentations about their mtDNA deletion and TFAM projects.
Visiting scholars
(29-08-2019) We have had a busy summer with four visiting scientists working in the lab. Dr. Layal Ishak came back from Lebanon to continue a project with us for a couple of months. From Newcastle, Professors Zofia Chrzanowska-Lightowlers and Robert Lightowlers have been with us for two weeks, along with their postdoc Shreya Ayyub, who is staying for a month. Always great having researchers wanting to come visit and collaborate with us!
New review paper out on how mtDNA is organized in mitochondria
(02-05-2019) Together with Geraldine Farge we review the role of TFAM in mtDNA compaction, and regulation of replication and transcription. Out now in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences – Organization of DNA in Mammalian Mitochondria.
Welcome Sebastian Valenzuela
(02-05-2019) We are happy to have Sebastian join as the group’s new research assistant.
Goodbye to Dzemila Secic
(01-04-2019) Time for Mila to move on from the lab because she is moving to Norrköping. All the best to her in her new BMA position there!
Maria Falkenberg becomes a Wallenberg Scholar
(25-03-2019) The Wallenberg Foundation announced today that Maria Falkenberg received a Wallenberg Scholars grant worth 18 million SEK over 5 years. Doubly good news because this makes Maria the first woman from the University of Gothenburg to receive this prestigious award. “We can start new, high risk projects that we otherwise wouldn’t dare to,” she said about the award (read more here).
Our latest paper is out in Nature Communications
(17-02-2019) We report on a new mechanism on how how mtDNA deletions arise: Copy-choice recombination during mitochondrial L-strand synthesis causes DNA deletions.
New year, new paper – out in PLoS Genetics
(07-01-2019) A new year all the happier with our latest paper – RNase H1 directs origin-specific initiation of DNA replication in human mitochondria.
2018
Grant awarded to Majda Mehmedovic
(12-12-2018) Congratulations to our PhD student Majda Mehmedovic for getting a KVA Bioscience grant from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.
New paper out in HMG
(03-12-2018) We have a new HMG paper out, about our structural analysis of adPEO-related TWINKLE mutants. Our results show that the mutations affect TWINKLE oligomerization.
Goodbye to Layal Ishak
(30-11-2018) Today is Layal’s last day in the lab after a 6 month postdoctoral visit. We say goodbye and wish her all the best in her new position as lecturer in Lebanon.
Renewed support from the Swedish Research Council
(26-10-2018) The Swedish Research council (VR) awards Maria Falkenberg 4.8 million SEK in project funding.
REMIX Meeting & Workshop in Gothenburg
(17-10-2018) The 2nd Annual REMIX Meeting was held in Gothenburg, 31 Oct – 1 Nov, followed by a data analysis workshop, 1 – 4 Nov. It was a great chance to meet all the REMIX fellows and PI’s again.
Grant awarded to Majda Mehmedovic
(15-10-2018) Congratulations to our PhD student Majda Mehmedovic for getting a Knut and Alice Wallenberg travel grant.
European Researchers’ Night
(28-09-2018) This year we reached out to pupils in a local Gothenburg high school, hopefully inspiring the next generation of scientists.
Welcome Benedict Tan
(11-09-2018) Benedict Tan starts his postdoc position in our group.
Two new papers out
(08-08-2018) In one paper we show that RNase H1 is required for primer processing at OriL (NAR). Also, don’t miss our latest review about mtDNA replication (Essays in Biochemistry).
Welcome Dzemila Secic
(06-08-2018) Dzemila joins as our new biomedical scientist.
Welcome Anup Mishra
(03-07-2018) Our new postdoc Anup Mishra joins the lab.
Grants awarded to three lab members
(01-06-2018) Congratulations to our postdoc Maru Eugenia Sanchez-Sandoval, and our PhD students Majda Mehmedovic and Ali Al-Behadili, who were awarded grants from the Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Foundation.
Visiting researchers
(01-06-2018) We say goodbye to our visiting researcher Amandine who returns to France, and in her place we welcome our new visitor, Layal.
EMBO Workshop — Molecular Biology of Mitochondrial Gene Expression
(20-05-2018) Our PhD students Ali Al-Behadili and Direnis Erdinc presented posters of their latest research at the 2018 Molecular Biology of Mitochondrial Gene Expression workshop.
2018 International Science Festival in Gothenburg
(20-04-2018) We welcomed visitors high up in Gothenburg’s Ferris wheel to talk about mtDNA. Read more about the yearly International Science Festival in Gothenburg here.
Swedish National DNA meeting
(22/23-01-2018) Great start to 2018 with the annual Swedish National DNA meeting in Gothenburg. Interesting research going on around the country and nice talks by everyone, including our postdocs Xie and Tom.
2017
Maria Falkenberg elected to KVVS
(2017) Maria is elected to KVVS, the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences in Gothenburg.
Welcome Maria Eugenia Sanchez-Sandoval
(01-11-2017) Maria Eugenia Sanchez-Sandoval joins the group as our new postdoc.
34.5 million SEK from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation
(28-09-2017) Maria Falkenberg receives a 34.5 million Swedish crown project grant from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation.
Our student wins best thesis prize
(31-08-2017) Congratulations to Malin Bengtsson who won best BMA project thesis nationwide.
Goodbye Anna-Karin Berglund
(31-08-2017) Good luck to our postdoc Anna-Karin Berglund who moves on to work at Sahlgrenska hospital.
Welcome Direnis Cayli
(06-2017) Direnis Cayli joins our group as a new PhD student. She is a fellow of the REMIX network (a Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN).
2017 International Science Festival in Gothenburg
(13-05-2017) In the lovely setting of the Gothenburg Garden Society we talked with visitors about our research as part of the Gothenburg Science Festival.
Goodbye Yazh Muthukumar
(14-05-2017) We say farewell to our postdoc Yazh Muthukumar with Sunday brunch at the Clarion Post hotel.
Welcome Hector Diaz and Anna Wramstedt
(04-2017) Our new postdoc Hector Diaz and new PhD student Anna Wramstedt join the group.
Welcome Xie Xie
(02-2017) Xie Xie joins as a new postdoc in the lab.
2016, 2015
REMIX Innovative Training Network launches
(2016) The REMIX training network is a four-year programme aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms and pathways that regulate mitochondrial gene expression. The Falkenberg lab will recruit one PhD student as part of the network.
Bertil Macao appointed Associate Professor
(2016) Congratulations to Bertil Macao who is now Assoc Prof. (Docent) at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
Our student wins best talk
(11-2016) Ali Al-Belhadili’s seminar is voted best talk in the “Introduction to Research” course.
2016 European Researchers’ Night
(30-9-2016) We met with visitors at the Gothenburg Maritime Museum to show them our research.
Two eminent scholars join us for their sabbatical leave
(2015) Two scientists from the University of Newcastle – Prof. Zofia Chrzanowska-Lightowlers, Director of Neuroscience, and Prof. Robert Lightowlers, Director of ICaMB, start a six month sabbatical in our group.
Maria Falkenberg is elected to the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
(2015) Maria Falkenberg is elected to the Biosciences class of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Read more about her election in this interview.
Visit from Nobel Laureate Tomas Lindahl
(2015) Newly awared Nobel Laureate Tomas Lindahl visits our research associate Monica Olsson. Read Monica’s interview here.
2 million EUR from the ERC
(2015) Maria Falkenberg receives a 2 million Euro 5-year ERC Consolidator grant. Read an interview about her ERC grant here.
FALKENBERG lab 