Anne Gjøen Simonsen

Anne Gjøen Simonsen is an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Molecular Medicine within the Institute of Basic Medical Sciences at the University of Oslo, with additional affiliation at the Institute for Cancer Research at Oslo University Hospital. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of autophagy, intracellular membrane trafficking, and the role of autophagy in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Her research interests center on autophagy pathways, particularly mitophagy and selective autophagy mechanisms. She investigates how autophagy regulates cellular homeostasis, mitochondrial quality control, and its implications in cancer progression and neurodegenerative disorders. Her work bridges basic cell biology with translational applications, exploring how autophagy modulation could lead to therapeutic interventions for various diseases.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on mitophagy mechanisms, membrane trafficking proteins (particularly SNX proteins and GRAMD1C), and the intersection of autophagy with cancer biology and neurodegeneration. Her research demonstrates how selective autophagy pathways maintain cellular homeostasis and how their dysregulation contributes to disease pathogenesis.

• King Olav Vs Cancer Research prize (2019)
• Elected member of the Norwegian Academy of Sciences
• Ragnar Mørk's legacy prize 2007

Professor Simonsen leads research on autophagy mechanisms with implications for cancer therapy and neurodegenerative diseases. Her laboratory investigates membrane trafficking proteins and their roles in autophagosome formation and mitochondrial quality control. She has received significant research funding supporting her work on autophagy in aging (AUTORHYTHM project), BEACH proteins, and cancer cell reprogramming (CANCELL Centre).