Merja Joensuu
@joensuulab.bsky.social
Lab head at The University of Queensland, Australia, https://aibn.uq.edu.au/joensuu . Cat servant. All things cell- and neurobiology, and microscopy.
Bringing the good energy! Thank you Garton T. Dodd and colleagues for highlighting our work and the emerging evidence on lipase DDHD2 and mechanisms enabling fatty acid mobilisation and oxidation in neurons. Read the beautifully written piece here: www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Neurons run on fat - npj Metabolic Health and Disease
Neurons were long thought to depend primarily on glucose metabolism for ATP production. However, recent findings from three laboratories show neurons metabolise long-chain fatty acids as alternative f...
www.nature.com
September 17, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Bringing the good energy! Thank you Garton T. Dodd and colleagues for highlighting our work and the emerging evidence on lipase DDHD2 and mechanisms enabling fatty acid mobilisation and oxidation in neurons. Read the beautifully written piece here: www.nature.com/articles/s44...
Join us at AussieMIT 2026 in Brisbane (24-27 November) for Australia’s premier mitochondrial research conference! 🧬 🇦🇺
📆 Early bird registration close August 9th
👉🏻 aussiemit.com.au
#AussieMIT2026 #Mitochondria #LifeSciences #STEM
📆 Early bird registration close August 9th
👉🏻 aussiemit.com.au
#AussieMIT2026 #Mitochondria #LifeSciences #STEM
July 30, 2026 at 10:36 PM
Join us at AussieMIT 2026 in Brisbane (24-27 November) for Australia’s premier mitochondrial research conference! 🧬 🇦🇺
📆 Early bird registration close August 9th
👉🏻 aussiemit.com.au
#AussieMIT2026 #Mitochondria #LifeSciences #STEM
📆 Early bird registration close August 9th
👉🏻 aussiemit.com.au
#AussieMIT2026 #Mitochondria #LifeSciences #STEM
These young women are truly a powerhouse! Yesterday we celebrated all things science: recent publications, submitted works, thesis submissions and the exciting new discoveries brewing in the lab. 🧪🧫🔬 🤓 @aibnatuq.bsky.social #womeninstem
June 6, 2026 at 5:24 AM
These young women are truly a powerhouse! Yesterday we celebrated all things science: recent publications, submitted works, thesis submissions and the exciting new discoveries brewing in the lab. 🧪🧫🔬 🤓 @aibnatuq.bsky.social #womeninstem
“The NHMRC needs to reinstate grant review panels to ensure research excellence, restore faith in Australian science, and prevent an exodus of talent to overseas.”
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Australia’s erosion of peer review
Throughout the world, peer review serves as the cornerstone of the scientific enterprise, providing rigorous quality control and building the confidence that underpins progress for both science and so...
www.science.org
June 6, 2026 at 5:09 AM
“The NHMRC needs to reinstate grant review panels to ensure research excellence, restore faith in Australian science, and prevent an exodus of talent to overseas.”
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Wonderful to see this out!
Thank you @cp-trendsendomet.bsky.social and @cellpress.bsky.social for inviting me to contribute to this collection celebrating mitochondria research and global experts. I am honored to have our work featured! @aibnatuq.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Thank you @cp-trendsendomet.bsky.social and @cellpress.bsky.social for inviting me to contribute to this collection celebrating mitochondria research and global experts. I am honored to have our work featured! @aibnatuq.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Mitochondria across the globe: diverse voices, shared energy
www.sciencedirect.com
June 2, 2026 at 11:20 AM
Wonderful to see this out!
Thank you @cp-trendsendomet.bsky.social and @cellpress.bsky.social for inviting me to contribute to this collection celebrating mitochondria research and global experts. I am honored to have our work featured! @aibnatuq.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Thank you @cp-trendsendomet.bsky.social and @cellpress.bsky.social for inviting me to contribute to this collection celebrating mitochondria research and global experts. I am honored to have our work featured! @aibnatuq.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
The latest publication from the lab is now out in @natureportfolio.nature.com. We show that pharmacological inhibition of NMT1 perturbs respiratory virus infectivity due to Golgi-bypassing egress, compromising spike maturation and incorporation. www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🦠🧫🔬
Inhibition of host N-myristoylation compromises the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 due to Golgi-bypassing egress - Nature Communications
Here the authors show that inhibition of host N-myristoyltransferase by IMP1088 reduces SARS-CoV-2, VSV and RSV infection across lung and nasal cells, through a Golgi-bypassing virion egress that disr...
www.nature.com
May 11, 2026 at 9:34 PM
The latest publication from the lab is now out in @natureportfolio.nature.com. We show that pharmacological inhibition of NMT1 perturbs respiratory virus infectivity due to Golgi-bypassing egress, compromising spike maturation and incorporation. www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🦠🧫🔬
Today is #RareDiseaseDay. Each rare disease affects only a small number of individuals, but together they affect millions of families worldwide. Rare diseases are often invisible in society and in funding systems, but for the families living with them they are everything.
#HSP54 #Neuroscience
#HSP54 #Neuroscience
February 28, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Today is #RareDiseaseDay. Each rare disease affects only a small number of individuals, but together they affect millions of families worldwide. Rare diseases are often invisible in society and in funding systems, but for the families living with them they are everything.
#HSP54 #Neuroscience
#HSP54 #Neuroscience
Fatty acid oxidation in fruit fly neurons connects fat-derived energy to memory formation. Nice work! Read it below👇🏻
Textbooks said neurons don’t burn fatty acids for energy🤔. Our study delivers the first in vivo demonstration that fatty acid oxidation in defined memory neurons fuels memory formation.
Closing chapter of my PhD 🥳, out today in Nature Metabolism💥 @natmetabolism.nature.com
Closing chapter of my PhD 🥳, out today in Nature Metabolism💥 @natmetabolism.nature.com
Neuronal fatty acid oxidation fuels memory after intensive learning in Drosophila - Nature Metabolism
Neurons are shown to use fatty acid β-oxidation as a fuel source for memory formation upon intensive learning in Drosophila, challenging the view that neurons are unable to use fatty acids for energy ...
www.nature.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Fatty acid oxidation in fruit fly neurons connects fat-derived energy to memory formation. Nice work! Read it below👇🏻
Reposted by Merja Joensuu
RESEARCH | S Saber, @joensuulab.bsky.social et al. (U Queensland):
The lipase DDHD2 provides endogenous fatty acids to support fatty acid oxidation and energy production, proteostasis and membrane trafficking balance in neurons 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
The lipase DDHD2 provides endogenous fatty acids to support fatty acid oxidation and energy production, proteostasis and membrane trafficking balance in neurons 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
DDHD2 provides a flux of saturated fatty acids for neuronal energy and function - Nature Metabolism
Saber et al. show that the lipase DDHD2 provides endogenous saturated fatty acids to support fatty acid oxidation and energy production, proteostasis and membrane trafficking balance.
www.nature.com
November 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
RESEARCH | S Saber, @joensuulab.bsky.social et al. (U Queensland):
The lipase DDHD2 provides endogenous fatty acids to support fatty acid oxidation and energy production, proteostasis and membrane trafficking balance in neurons 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
The lipase DDHD2 provides endogenous fatty acids to support fatty acid oxidation and energy production, proteostasis and membrane trafficking balance in neurons 🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
More evidence appearing on fatty acid energy fuelling of neurons ⚡️🧠 🔋👇🏻 #pufa #dementia #ageing
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Interaction of sortilin with apolipoprotein E3 enables neurons to use long-chain fatty acids as alternative metabolic fuel - Nature Metabolism
Greda et al. show that sortilin and apolipoprotein E3 mediate import and utilization of long-chain fatty acids as a metabolic fuel in neurons after glucose restriction.
www.nature.com
October 16, 2025 at 10:08 PM
More evidence appearing on fatty acid energy fuelling of neurons ⚡️🧠 🔋👇🏻 #pufa #dementia #ageing
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
www.nature.com/articles/s42...
Reposted by Merja Joensuu
Lupaavat uudet tutkimustulokset osoittavat, että aivojen hermosolut voivat käyttää rasvaa ajattelun, liikkumisen ja muistamisen polttoaineena. Yllättävä löydös saattaa mahdollistaa uusien hoitojen kehittämisen vakaviin aivosairauksiin.
www.helsinki.fi/fi/uutiset/t...
www.helsinki.fi/fi/uutiset/t...
Rasva ruokkii aivoja – läpimurto aivojen aineenvaihduntasairauksien hoidossa | Helsingin yliopisto
Tiesitkö, että aivot voivat käyttää rasvaa energianlähteenä? Lupaavat uudet tutkimustulokset osoittavat, että aivojen hermosolut voivat käyttää rasvaa ajattelun, liikkumisen ja muistamisen polttoainee...
www.helsinki.fi
October 6, 2025 at 11:10 AM
Lupaavat uudet tutkimustulokset osoittavat, että aivojen hermosolut voivat käyttää rasvaa ajattelun, liikkumisen ja muistamisen polttoaineena. Yllättävä löydös saattaa mahdollistaa uusien hoitojen kehittämisen vakaviin aivosairauksiin.
www.helsinki.fi/fi/uutiset/t...
www.helsinki.fi/fi/uutiset/t...
Why fundamental research matters? It can have far-reaching implications for human health, as shown in latest Nobel Prize win on discovering why immune system does not destroy the body.
Make funding fundamental science a priority - there is no translation without it!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Make funding fundamental science a priority - there is no translation without it!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
October 7, 2025 at 6:40 AM
Why fundamental research matters? It can have far-reaching implications for human health, as shown in latest Nobel Prize win on discovering why immune system does not destroy the body.
Make funding fundamental science a priority - there is no translation without it!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Make funding fundamental science a priority - there is no translation without it!
www.bbc.com/news/article...
🧠 If you are interested in our discovery of neurons using endogenous fatty acids to fuel their energy and function (rdcu.be/eIQA0), I recommend this read:
www.sciencenewstoday.org/your-neurons...
#fattyacids #betaoxidation #brain #neuron #mitochondria #HSP #rarediseasr #metabolism #energy
www.sciencenewstoday.org/your-neurons...
#fattyacids #betaoxidation #brain #neuron #mitochondria #HSP #rarediseasr #metabolism #energy
Your Neurons Have a Secret Power Source — And It Could Change Medicine Forever
For as long as modern neuroscience has existed, one belief has stood largely unquestioned: the brain, our most energy-hungry organ,…
www.sciencenewstoday.org
October 6, 2025 at 8:22 PM
🧠 If you are interested in our discovery of neurons using endogenous fatty acids to fuel their energy and function (rdcu.be/eIQA0), I recommend this read:
www.sciencenewstoday.org/your-neurons...
#fattyacids #betaoxidation #brain #neuron #mitochondria #HSP #rarediseasr #metabolism #energy
www.sciencenewstoday.org/your-neurons...
#fattyacids #betaoxidation #brain #neuron #mitochondria #HSP #rarediseasr #metabolism #energy
💡Fats fuel our thoughts 🌟 Read more here: rdcu.be/eIQA0
#fattyacids #metabolism #energy #betaoxidation #HSP #raredisease #brain #neuron #energy
www.helsinki.fi/en/news/heal...
#fattyacids #metabolism #energy #betaoxidation #HSP #raredisease #brain #neuron #energy
www.helsinki.fi/en/news/heal...
Fats Fuel the Brain – A Breakthrough in Treating Metabolic Brain Disorders | University of Helsinki
Did you know your brain can run on fat? Exciting new research has revealed that neurons in the brain can use fats as fuel—powering our thoughts, movements, and memories. This surprising discovery open...
www.helsinki.fi
October 6, 2025 at 8:17 PM
💡Fats fuel our thoughts 🌟 Read more here: rdcu.be/eIQA0
#fattyacids #metabolism #energy #betaoxidation #HSP #raredisease #brain #neuron #energy
www.helsinki.fi/en/news/heal...
#fattyacids #metabolism #energy #betaoxidation #HSP #raredisease #brain #neuron #energy
www.helsinki.fi/en/news/heal...
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 #neuron #energy #metabolism #fattyacid #raredisease #HSP #mitochondria #betaoxidation #brain #health #neurodegeneration Read more here: rdcu.be/eIQA0 🧠 🔬
October 3, 2025 at 2:41 AM
👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻 #neuron #energy #metabolism #fattyacid #raredisease #HSP #mitochondria #betaoxidation #brain #health #neurodegeneration Read more here: rdcu.be/eIQA0 🧠 🔬
🌟 Thrilled to share that my lab’s first publication is now out in @natmetabolism.nature.com. Congrats to the team 🎉
🧠 We discovered that neurons use endogenous fatty acids as an energy fuel, challenging long-standing models of sugars being the exclusive energy source for neurons. 1/3
🧠 We discovered that neurons use endogenous fatty acids as an energy fuel, challenging long-standing models of sugars being the exclusive energy source for neurons. 1/3
October 1, 2025 at 4:11 AM
🌟 Thrilled to share that my lab’s first publication is now out in @natmetabolism.nature.com. Congrats to the team 🎉
🧠 We discovered that neurons use endogenous fatty acids as an energy fuel, challenging long-standing models of sugars being the exclusive energy source for neurons. 1/3
🧠 We discovered that neurons use endogenous fatty acids as an energy fuel, challenging long-standing models of sugars being the exclusive energy source for neurons. 1/3
Yesterday I was honored to receive 2025 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award #YTP25 from The Australian Institute of Policy and Science @aipscience.bsky.social. The award celebrates scientific achievements & community outreach. Big thanks to my lab and AIBN at UQ for making this possible. 🏅
September 9, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Yesterday I was honored to receive 2025 Queensland Young Tall Poppy Award #YTP25 from The Australian Institute of Policy and Science @aipscience.bsky.social. The award celebrates scientific achievements & community outreach. Big thanks to my lab and AIBN at UQ for making this possible. 🏅
Reposted by Merja Joensuu
Some commiserations for fellow #ARC applicants - I was a 2020 ARC Future Fellow. With that support, I now have a senior author Nature Cell Biology paper. Here’s my grant outcomes for that period. You are not alone. There simply isn’t enough money in the system.
November 26, 2024 at 4:57 AM
Some commiserations for fellow #ARC applicants - I was a 2020 ARC Future Fellow. With that support, I now have a senior author Nature Cell Biology paper. Here’s my grant outcomes for that period. You are not alone. There simply isn’t enough money in the system.
Check out our latest publication: Dynamin independent endocytosis is an alternative cell entry mechanism for multiple animal viruses.
Congrats to all authors, especially A/Prof Balistreri, University of Helsinki, for this classic host-virus interaction paper. 🦠🧫🔬
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Congrats to all authors, especially A/Prof Balistreri, University of Helsinki, for this classic host-virus interaction paper. 🦠🧫🔬
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Dynamin independent endocytosis is an alternative cell entry mechanism for multiple animal viruses
Author summary To initiate their infection cycle, most viruses first need to enter their target cells, a process called endocytosis. In mammalian cells, endocytosis often involves a class of proteins ...
journals.plos.org
November 21, 2024 at 9:17 PM
Check out our latest publication: Dynamin independent endocytosis is an alternative cell entry mechanism for multiple animal viruses.
Congrats to all authors, especially A/Prof Balistreri, University of Helsinki, for this classic host-virus interaction paper. 🦠🧫🔬
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Congrats to all authors, especially A/Prof Balistreri, University of Helsinki, for this classic host-virus interaction paper. 🦠🧫🔬
journals.plos.org/plospathogen...
Heya! Introductory post on 🦋 I am a lab head at The University of Queensland. My lab studies molecular mechanisms of cellular and neuronal membrane trafficking, aiming at discovering new therapeutic strategies for human conditions caused by mutations, neurotoxins and viruses. aibn.uq.edu.au/joensuu
aibn.uq.edu.au
November 20, 2024 at 5:20 AM
Heya! Introductory post on 🦋 I am a lab head at The University of Queensland. My lab studies molecular mechanisms of cellular and neuronal membrane trafficking, aiming at discovering new therapeutic strategies for human conditions caused by mutations, neurotoxins and viruses. aibn.uq.edu.au/joensuu