Mitochondria are unique and complex organelles that perform essential functions in many aspects of cell biology. Once considered to be mere sites of ATP generation, it is now evident that these organelles participate in a wide range of cellular processes including calcium homeostasis, apoptosis, redox balance or cell fate. Because of this multifaceted contribution of mitochondria to key biologic and metabolic pathways it is not surprising that mitochondrial dysfunction has been linked to many human disorders including neurodegeneration, diabetes, cancer or aging. The Balsa laboratory seeks to understand the basic molecular components that regulate mitochondrial function and integrate this knowledge in the context of human physiology and disease.