Dear all,

we would like to invite you to the lecture at the Institute of Physiology.

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At the Lecture hall of the Institute:

https://fgu.cas.cz/udalost/lukas-chmatal-ph-d/

Lecture annotation:

Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, but its effects are far from uniform. Men and women experience striking differences in symptoms, prevalence, and outcomes – yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these differences remain poorly understood. In this lecture, I will reveal how male and female hearts fundamentally differ in their energy metabolism, which is driven by mitochondria, the cell’s powerhouse. I will also outline innovative experimental approaches to uncover the role of sex chromosomes in regulating these differences – insights that will shape the research agenda of my own laboratory. Please, join me to explore how understanding these mechanisms could transform the way we approach cardiac health for both sexes.

Biography

Lukas Chmatal, PhD, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research at MIT. He earned his Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Chmatal’s research focuses on uncovering the molecular mechanisms driving sex differences in heart health and disease, with a particular emphasis on the role of sex chromosomes and mitochondria. His work aims to deepen our understanding of heart physiology and pave the way for clinical applications that benefit both male and female patients. Dr. Chmatal has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Kaluza Prize from the American Society for Cell Biology for excellence in graduate research and the Whitehead Institute Spirit Award for outstanding contributions to the research community. He has authored and co-authored studies published in top-tier journals such as Current Biology, Nature Medicine, Science Advances, and Science. In addition to his research, Dr. Chmatal is passionate about mentoring and teaching, with a strong focus on fostering inclusivity and active learning. An avid marathon and ultramarathon runner, he founded and led the Whitehead Institute Running Club, promoting wellness and community within the institute.

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