Hope for FAOD Patients Through Research

Dr. Melanie Gillingham is a professor of molecular and medical genetics at Oregon Health & Science University and one of the leading researchers in fatty acid oxidation disorders (FAODs). In this episode of Energy in Action, host Marcy Young speaks with Dr. Gillingham about the journey that led her from clinical dietetics into FAOD research, the impact of meeting one young patient with LCHAD early in her training, and the deeply personal connection she maintains with families affected by these rare diseases.

They discuss the results of a five-year natural history study on LCHAD retinopathy, why puberty may be a turning point in vision decline, and how new preclinical models—from iPSC-derived retinal cells to animal studies—are driving progress toward future treatments. Dr. Gillingham also explains why nutrition research is still so limited in mitochondrial disease, how new advances in precision nutrition might change that, and what’s next in her ambitious plan to launch a national FAOD Consortium. From patient-inspired breakthroughs to surprise stories of regained mobility, this episode is a powerful reminder that real hope is rooted in rigorous science—and in the people who never stop asking what’s possible.

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