Mitochondrial Physiology (MiP) 'continues a tradition of rigorous mitochondrial bioenergetics' (quoting the International MiPsociety – www.mitophysiology.org).  The company OROBOROS INSTRUMENTS Corp. values this tradition as a basis of our continuous instrumental development, which is part of our concept of Corporate Social Responsibility.  In this spirit and with emphasis on our Educational Responsibility, we initiated and support the MiP-Collection.

Mitochondrial health is one of the most important emerging issues of preventive medicine, strongly related to aerobic exercise, healthy food and an active lifestyle.  In contrast, 'mitochondrial fever' resulting from a sedentary life style increases cardiovascular risks, obesity, degenerative diseases in aging and numerous pathologies that reduce the quality of life and increase the cost of our health system.

The growing MiP-Collection aims at preserving scientific instruments that are of historical importance in the field of bioenergetics and mitochondrial physiology.  The fast turnover of scientific equipment makes obsolete even comparatively recent instrumentation.  The OROBOROS Oxygraph was the first commercial mitochondrial respirometer using a computer for data acquisition.  Today, chart recorders are nearly forgotten.  Due to limitations of storage space, unused scientific equipment is disposed of, despite its potential historical value.  The disposal of some unique apparatus constitutes an irreversible loss to science and society, and to the continued appreciation of the foundations of our scientific discipline.

    You may consider to make items of scientific historical interest in mitochondrial physiology available to the MiP-Collection.  These items of the MiP-Collection may specifically include historically valuable

·       equipment and accessories,

·       books and symposium proceedings,

·       reprint collections,

·       pictures, slides, documents.

1. The first phase of the MiP-Collection will increase the present collection to a critical size of international standard, with particular emphasis on Mitochondrial Respiratory Physiology.  An archive is generated, including personal and general descriptions of the collected items, with reference to their source, application and key publications.  The storage capacity is expanding according to the increasing demand of the MiP-Collection.
2. The second phase of the MiP-Collection will be a special exhibition, preferentially in conjunction with an international MiPconference. 
3. The third phase of the MiP-Collection will be a permanent exhibition, accessible to the public, and particularly to researchers and students of mitochondrial physiology and of the history of science.  The MiP-Collection and MiPArt Gallery are complementary educational initiatives for strengthening the general appreciation of mitochondrial physiology and pathology in our society.
4. The MiP-Collection should become recognized as the 'MiP Science Museum'.  Interactions will be implemented as an approach towards education, providing an experience of cell respiration, mitochondrial function and efficiency by aerobic activity, from muscular power to brain power.

The MiP-Collection is a non-profit initiative.  Financial support is provided by OROBOROS INSTRUMENTS.  Presently we seek a broad basis of support by scientists and experts.   The MiP-Collection should become recognized and identified as a project of Educational Responsibility by specific scientific societies, health organisations, educational organisations, government and non-government organisations.

      Please, contact us if you intend to contribute historically valuable items to the MiP-Collection and want to receive more information.

• Download this text and reply form as pdf [189 kB, 2009-06-09] 

A.Univ.-Prof. Dr. Erich Gnaiger

OROBOROS® INSTRUMENTS Corp.                                                                   

high-resolution respirometry

Schöpfstrasse 18,  A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

T/F +43 512 566796

Email: erich.gnaiger@oroboros.at

www.oroboros.at  -  www.mipart.at

See also: www.alpmuseum.at

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and

Medical University of Innsbruck, Dept. General and Transplant Surgery

D. Swarovski Research Laboratory, Innrain 66/6

A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

T +43 512 504 24623 (F 24625)

Email: erich.gnaiger@i-med.ac.at