Denisa joined the Horvath Lab in 2019 as a Research Associate. She holds a degree in Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry from Romania and later transitioned into Biology, earning a PhD in Biology from the University of Duisburg-Essen and the Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences (ISAS) in Germany. Her doctoral research focused on understanding molecular mechanisms in rare neuromuscular diseases. Upon joining the Horvath Lab, Denisa initially worked on rare reversible mitochondrial myopathies. Currently, Denisa's research centers on the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on neuronal function. She investigates the energetic differences between various neuronal cell types and explores the mechanisms of axonal and synapse homeostasis under mitochondrial stress. Using cortical organoids and neuronal models, she aims to uncover the molecular pathways driving these conditions. Denisa is passionate about bridging mitochondrial biology with neuroscience to understand mitochondrial disorders affecting the brain, driven by a commitment to understanding the cellular vulnerabilities that contribute to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration.