Reengineering a mitochondrial peptide to rescue diabetic heart dysfunction

Type 2 diabetes is New Zealand’s fastest-growing chronic disease and a major reason why many people die early from heart failure. One of the biggest problems is that the heart’s mitochondria, the tiny “power stations” inside each cell, cannot produce enough energy to keep the heart pumping well. This energy shortage happens early in diabetes, long before symptoms appear, but we still don’t know whether fixing mitochondrial health can directly improve heart function.

A recently discovered mitochondrial peptide helps cells make energy and cope with stress. It shows real promise as a future therapy, but it breaks down very quickly in the body, meaning it may not work well enough in its current form.

This PhD project aims to engineer improved versions of peptides that last longer, enter cells more effectively, and better support the energy needs of the diabetic heart. You will use cutting-edge tools, including peptide design, super-resolution microscopy, and high-resolution respirometry, to test how modified peptides behave in heart cells under diabetes-like stress. You will then evaluate their metabolism and therapeutic potential in a well-established diabetic rat model.

By linking peptide structure to mitochondrial function and heart performance, this project will uncover new biological insights and help identify next-generation peptide analogues with genuine therapeutic potential for diabetic heart disease. 

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in bioengineering or biomedical sciences
• Experimental physiology would be desirable

This project is eligible for funding but is subject to eligibility criteria & funding availability.

Page expires: 27 January 2027