Marc Vermulst

Marc Vermulst is an Associate Professor of Gerontology at the University of Southern California. His research focuses on the interplay between genetic mutations, transcription fidelity, and age-related diseases such as neurodegeneration and mitochondrial dysfunction.

He has extensively studied mitochondrial biology, including the role of transcription errors in protein aggregation (e.g., amyloid-like proteins) and their implications in diseases like Alzheimer’s and ALS/PDC. His work also explores environmental genotoxins and their effects on transcriptional mutagenesis, using model organisms such as C. elegans and S. cerevisiae.

Key contributions include developing novel tools like MADDD-seq for detecting DNA damage and mutations, and investigating chemical probes (e.g., mycothiazole derivatives) to study mitochondrial function. His research bridges molecular mechanisms with clinical implications, aiming to uncover pathways for aging intervention and disease prevention.

Recent work highlights the evolutionary conservation of transcription fidelity and the impact of mitochondrial DNA mutations on healthspan and lifespan.