Prof (PhD) Karl Johan Tronstad

Prof Karl Johan Tronstad is a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the department of biomedicine at Bergen University in Norway where he heads the cell metabolism research group. The Tronstad lab studies how changes in cell metabolism and mitochondrial function may disturb energy homeostasis and cause disease. The lab combines multimodal approaches to investigate energy metabolism in experimental models and clinical samples. Their hypothesis is that changes in cell physiology may be controlled by specific metabolic pathways, and consequently, that pathological shifts may be prevented or modulated by metabolic interventions. Currently, the groups is investigating these aspects in relation to cancer cell plasticity and therapy resistance as well as in ME/CFS, where they recently found biochemical changes in the blood of ME/CFS patients suggestive of a specific metabolic obstruction that support the hypothesis that the disease involves impaired cellular energy metabolism which may explain several symptoms of ME/CFS. Prof Tronstad has been researching ME/CFS and metabolism for almost 10 years and closely collaborates with the "ME/CFS research group" at Haukeland University Clinic in Bergen.