Carlo Viscomi

Principal Investigator

Carlo Viscomi leads a laboratory that develops new therapies for rare diseases related to mitochondria and muscles. After international research experiences in Milan, Cambridge, and Padua, he contributed to the creation of innovative treatments such as virus-mediated (AAV) gene therapy and pharmacological strategies to stimulate mitochondrial function. His work helps to better understand the mechanisms causing severe mitochondrial and muscle diseases, offering new treatment opportunities to those who currently have none available. His research combines genetics, biology, and medicine, with the goal of turning scientific discoveries into concrete therapies for patients.

Group members
Research

Carlo Viscomi’s research focuses on inherited diseases that affect mitochondria, often lacking available treatments. His laboratory has uncovered new mechanisms underlying these conditions, such as the accumulation of toxic substances in some severe forms, and has contributed to developing pharmacological therapies now used in clinical practice. Moreover, he has developed gene therapy techniques to correct defects in animal models, paving the way for future patient treatments. He also studies how to increase the production of new mitochondria and how to modify them to function more effectively. His goal is to translate laboratory discoveries into concrete and innovative therapies.

Publications
  1. Modelling POLG mutations in mice unravels a critical role of POLγΒ in regulating phenotypic severity.

    Corrà S, Zuppardo A, Valenzuela S, Jenninger L, Cerutti R, Sillamaa S, Hoberg E, Johansson KAS, Rovsnik U, Volta S, Silva-Pinheiro P, Davis H, Trifunovic A, Minczuk M, Gustafsson CM, Suomalainen A, Zeviani M, Macao B, Zhu X, Falkenberg M, Viscomi C. Nat Commun. 2025 May 23;16(1):4782. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60059-y.

  2. The striking differences in the bioenergetics of brain and liver mitochondria are enhanced in mitochondrial disease.

    Balmaceda V, Komlódi T, Szibor M, Gnaiger E, Moore AL, Fernandez-Vizarra E, Viscomi C. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis. 2024 Mar;1870(3):167033. doi: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167033. Epub 2024 Jan 26.

  3. Mitochondrial Neurodegeneration: Lessons from Drosophila melanogaster Models.

    Brischigliaro M, Fernandez-Vizarra E, Viscomi C. Biomolecules. 2023 Feb 16;13(2):378. doi: 10.3390/biom13020378.

  4. Experimental therapy for mitochondrial diseases.

    Viscomi C, Zeviani M. Handb Clin Neurol. 2023;194:259-277. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-821751-1.00013-0.

  5. Mitochondrial DNA Sequencing and Heteroplasmy Quantification by Next Generation Sequencing.

    Legati A, Ghezzi D, Viscomi C. Methods Mol Biol. 2023;2615:381-395. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2922-2_26.

Curriculum

2002

PhD in Physiology

2002- 2004


Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Università degli Studi di Milano

2004-2009


Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Istituto Neurologico Besta (Milano)

2009 -2013

Junior PI - Istituto Neurologico Besta (Milano)

2013 - 2020

Senior Researcher - MRC/University of Cambridge Mitochondrial Biology Unit, Cambridge

2020


Associate Professor of Genetics - Università degli Studi di Padova

2024

Principal Investigator - VIMM

Selected Awards

2010

Kelsey Wright Award for Excellence in Mitochondrial Medicine, United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation