ERC Starting Grant for Soni Deshwal
Studying ferroptosis through the mitochondrial lens
Soni Deshwal, postdoctoral fellow in Thomas Langer's department, has been awarded the prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant, worth 1.5 million euros. The award aims to support Europe's most talented researchers and give them the freedom to pursue their ideas. Deshwal plans to set up her own research group to study the role of mitochondria in iron-dependent cell death.
Ferroptosis, a recently identified form of cell death discovered in 2012, occurs when lipid peroxides accumulate and iron-dependent oxidative damage takes place. This process has been associated with various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, ischemia-reperfusion injuries, aging, and cancer.
As a postdoctoral researcher, Deshwal discovered that mitochondria, the metabolic centres of cells, transport the hydrophobic lipid coenzyme Q to the plasma membrane to inhibit ferroptosis. Her research group will now explore whether this coenzyme Q transport is the only strategy mitochondria use to prevent ferroptosis or if other mechanisms are involved. Additionally, she will investigate whether mitochondrial communication extends beyond the plasma membrane, such as with the endoplasmic reticulum, to inhibit this form of cell death.
“Understanding the processes underlying ferroptosis is crucial. While drugs targeting ferroptosis are already being tested for diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration, we still lack a clear understanding of how they work and what side effects they might have. To make these therapies truly effective, we need to delve into the fundamental processes at play. My research aims to uncover how mitochondria regulate this form of metabolic cell death.," says Deshwal.
“I am deeply honored and grateful to receive the ERC Starting Grant. This award gives me the incredible opportunity to establish my own research group and fully immerse myself in my passion for mitochondrial research,” Deshwal shares. “My experience at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing has been pivotal in preparing me for this next chapter. The Institute not only offered me the freedom to explore my scientific interests but also provided outstanding infrastructure, such as core facilities, and unwavering support from research group leaders and the grant office throughout my ERC application.
Beyond the scientific support, the encouragement and strength I received from my husband and family have been crucial in helping me navigate the challenges of an academic career. Their belief in me has kept me going through all the ups and downs.”
The awardee
Soni Deshwal holds a Master’s in Molecular Genetics from the University of Leicester, UK. She then joined the University of Padova as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie PhD fellow, where she studied mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Driven by her interest in mitochondrial biology, she joined the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing as an Alexander von Humboldt fellow, where she conducted mechanistic studies on the role of mitochondria in cell death. It was here that she became fascinated with ferroptotic cell death and made the interesting discovery that mitochondria can inhibit ferroptosis.
The European Research Council (ERC)
The European Research Council, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the first European funding organisation for excellent frontier research. Every year, it selects and funds the very best, creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based in Europe. ERC Starting Grants are awarded to researchers with two to seven years of experience since completion of the PhD (or equivalent degree) and a scientific track record showing great promise. The research must be conducted in a public or private research organisation located in one of the EU Member States or Associated Countries. The funding (up to €1.5 million per grant) is provided over up to five years.
