Patel Laboratory

Mitochondrial Genetics, Cell Biology and Metabolism

Homeostasis is a type of biological balance by which organisms — and the cells that comprise them — maintain a stable internal environment. If homeostasis is lost, cells can fall into dysfunction and diseases can arise. When this happens in cellular organelles called mitochondria, the consequences can be far-reaching and devastating.

Mitochondria are known as the powerhouses of the cell but, in reality, they do so much more. In addition to producing energy through cellular respiration, mitochondria also help maintain homeostasis, support cell growth and manage cellular metabolism. Mitochondria also are unique among organelles because they have their own genome separate from the rest of the cell. Mutations in the mitochondrial genome are linked to a host of biological consequences, including inherited disease, age-related disorders and even the evolutionary process of speciation.

The Patel Lab studies how cells maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and explore what happens when this critical process breaks down. We seek to answer several fundamental questions with widespread implications for human health, including:

What is the molecular basis of mitochondrial copy number control?
How does epigenetic regulation influence the mitochondrial genome?
What cellular mechanisms govern transmission of mitochondrial mutants through the germline?
What role do signaling RNAs play in regulating mitochondrial function?

Our Impact

We’re raising thousands to save millions.

We’re turning hope into action for the millions of people around the world affected by diseases like cancer and Parkinson’s. Find out how you can help us make a difference.

141 peer-reviewed papers published in 2025, 74 of which were in high-impact journals
15 VAI-SU2C Epigenetics Dream Team clinical trials launched to date
10 clinical trials and related projects supported by VAI through the International Linked Clinical Trials Program

Support VAI

Maulik Patel, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming

Areas of Expertise

Mitochondria, mitochondrial genetics, mito-nuclear communication, C. elegans, cellular stress

Biography

Dr. Maulik Patel studies how cells handle, store and expend energy, with a focus on how this intricate process, connected with metabolism and nutrition, interacts with other systems to influence health, disease and aging. His research centers on cellular “powerhouses” called mitochondria, which support day-to-day function and, when faulty, contribute to rare, devastating diseases in children and common degenerative conditions in aging adults.

After earning his B.A. in cognitive neurophilosophy from Grinnell College, Dr. Patel worked as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Larry Katz at Duke University, where he studied pheromone-based memory development. He later earned his Ph.D. from Stanford University under the mentorship of Dr. Kang Shen. His doctoral research focused on synapse development and resulted in several high-impact publications.

Following graduate school, Dr. Patel joined the lab of Dr. Harmit Malik at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where he developed a mitochondria-focused research program. During his postdoc, Dr. Patel was awarded a prestigious Helen Hay Whitney Foundation Fellowship to support his work.

Dr. Patel joined Vanderbilt University as an assistant professor in 2015. Leveraging C. elegans as a model, his lab revealed new insights into mitochondria’s role in homeostasis, mitochondrial genome dynamics and mitochondrial fitness. Dr. Patel also developed and taught the undergraduate courses Introduction to Cell Biology and Principles of Human Disease. His commitment to supporting the next generation of scientists earned him the 2021 Excellence in Mentoring Award from Vanderbilt’s Department of Biological Sciences.

In 2025, Dr. Patel joined Van Andel Institute’s Department of Metabolism and Nutritional Programming as an associate professor. He continues to expand his research, with an emphasis on how mitochondrial genetics and metabolism influence development and physiology.