Richard Youle

Richard Youle elucidated the PINK1-Parkin mitophagy pathway, revealing how damaged mitochondria are selectively targeted for autophagic degradation through ubiquitin-dependent signaling, a mechanism with profound implications for cancer cell metabolic adaptation. His work demonstrated that cancer cells modulate mitophagy to maintain a pool of functional mitochondria while eliminating dysfunctional ones that generate excessive reactive oxygen species. He has also contributed to understanding xenophagy, the selective autophagic clearance of intracellular pathogens. His discoveries have opened therapeutic avenues for manipulating selective autophagy in cancer.