Jason A. Mears

Jason A. Mears is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine. He serves as Graduate Program Director in Pharmacology and Associate Director for Training and Education at the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research focuses on mitochondrial dynamics, particularly the regulation of mitochondrial fission via Drp1 protein complexes. Combining cryo-electron microscopy, biochemistry, and computational biology, his lab investigates how mitochondrial morphology impacts diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.

Dr. Mears’ work bridges structural and functional studies of Drp1, elucidating mechanisms of membrane constriction during fission. His lab developed novel in vitro assays to study cellular perturbations in human disease contexts. He collaborates with mitochondrial biologists, structural experts, and cancer researchers to address how mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to pathologies.

Key research themes include the molecular basis of Drp1 assembly, disease-linked mutations in mitochondrial fission machinery, and the role of O-GlcNAc cycling in mitochondrial health. Future work aims to clarify links between mitochondrial dynamics and cancer stem cell behavior using advanced imaging and computational tools.