Advisor for Cell Danger Response
and Mitochondrial Function
Our program is based on in-depth medical expertise and many years of experience in dealing with complex chronic diseases. For the Cell Danger Response module, we were also able to secure Prof. Naviaux as a scientific advisor – one of the world's leading experts in this field. This is a great honor for us and a unique added value for all participants.
Advisor for Cell Danger Response
and Mitochondrial Function
The physician and scientist Prof. Dr. Robert K. Naviaux, who specializes in mitochondrial medicine, developed the concept of the so-called Cell Danger Response (CDR).
He presented this theory in his 2014 work “Metabolic Features of the Cell Danger Response” and described the 3-phase CDR as an evolutionary protective mechanism with which the body responds to threats such as infections, environmental toxins or trauma.
His research put mitochondria in a new light—not only as the "powerhouses of the cell," but also as central players in the body's defense and healing processes. He later wrote in his 2023 Salugenesis article about the mitochondrial steps required for healing and how abnormal persistence of CDR causes the symptoms of most chronic diseases.
Robert K. Naviaux
MD, PhD
Professor of Genetics
Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center
University of California
San Diego School of Medicine
Acknowledgement
In 1994 he proposed the Polyvagal Theory, a neuroscientific theory that expands the classical understanding of the autonomic nervous system, particularly the vagus nerve, and describes how our nervous system responds to safety or threat – with direct reference to social behavior, trauma, stress regulation, and physical health.
Stephen W. Porges
PhD
Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
University of North Carolina
Founding director of the Traumatic Stress Research Consortium at Indiana University
We gratefully acknowledge Prof. Stephen Porges for his valuable contribution and helpful personal input that supported the development of our Polyvagal module.
For more information about his work please see: www.stephenporges.com
Safety Retreat is based on elements from:
Psycho-Neuro-Immunology
®
Mitochondrial medicine
Functional Medicine
Endocrinology
Laboratory medicine
Epigenetics
TCM
Scientific studies
provide background knowledge for the Safety Retreat approach:
Naviaux RK. Mitochondrial and metabolic features of salugenesis and the healing cycle. Mitochondrion. 2023 May;70:131-163. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2023.04.003. Epub 2023 Apr 27. PMID: 37120082. Naviaux RK. Perspective: Cell danger response Biology-The new science that connects environmental health with mitochondria and the rising tide of chronic illness. Mitochondrion. 2020 Mar;51:40-45. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2019.12.005. Epub 2019 Dec 23. PMID: 31877376. Porges SW. Polyvagal Theory: A Science of Safety. Front Integr Neurosci. 2022 May 10;16:871227. doi: 10.3389/fnint.2022.871227. PMID: 35645742; PMCID: PMC9131189. Bobba-Alves N, Juster RP, Picard M. The energetic cost of allostasis and allostatic load. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2022 Dec;146:105951. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2022.105951. Epub 2022 Oct 8. PMID: 36302295; PMCID: PMC10082134. Borovikova LV, Ivanova S, Zhang M, Yang H, Botchkina GI, Watkins LR, Wang H, Abumrad N, Eaton JW, Tracey KJ. Vagus nerve stimulation attenuates the systemic inflammatory response to endotoxin. Nature. 2000 May 25;405(6785):458-62. doi: 10.1038/35013070. PMID: 10839541. Porges SW. The polyvagal perspective. Biol Psychol. 2007 Feb;74(2):116-43. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.06.009. Epub 2006 Oct 16. PMID: 17049418; PMCID: PMC1868418. Neuhuber WL, Berthoud HR. Functional anatomy of the vagus system: How does the polyvagal theory comply? Biol Psychol. 2022 Oct;174:108425. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2022.108425. Epub 2022 Sep 12. Erratum in: Biol Psychol. 2023 Apr;179:108554. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2023.108554. PMID: 36100134. Ramos-Martínez IE, Rodríguez MC, Cerbón M, Ramos-Martínez JC, Ramos-Martínez EG. Role of the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Reflex in Central Nervous System Diseases. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Dec 14;22(24):13427. doi: 10.3390/ijms222413427. PMID: 34948222; PMCID: PMC8705572. Naviaux RK. Metabolic features of the cell danger response. Mitochondrion. 2014 May;16:7-17. doi: 10.1016/j.mito.2013.08.006. Epub 2013 Aug 24. PMID: 23981537. Bonaz B, Sinniger V, Pellissier S. Anti-inflammatory properties of the vagus nerve: potential therapeutic implications of vagus nerve stimulation. J Physiol. 2016 Oct 15;594(20):5781-5790. doi: 10.1113/JP271539. Epub 2016 May 1. PMID: 27059884; PMCID: PMC5063949. Bazoukis G, Stavrakis S, Armoundas AA. Vagus Nerve Stimulation and Inflammation in Cardiovascular Disease: A State-of-the-Art Review. J Am Heart Assoc. 2023 Oct 3;12(19):e030539. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.123.030539. Epub 2023 Sep 18. PMID: 37721168; PMCID: PMC10727239. Bobba-Alves N, Sturm G, Lin J, Ware SA, Karan KR, Monzel AS, Bris C, Procaccio V, Lenaers G, Higgins-Chen A, Levine M, Horvath S, Santhanam BS, Kaufman BA, Hirano M, Epel E, Picard M. Cellular allostatic load is linked to increased energy expenditure and accelerated biological aging. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2023 Sep;155:106322. doi: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2023.106322. Epub 2023 Jun 14. PMID: 37423094; PMCID: PMC10528419. Guidi J, Lucente M, Sonino N, Fava GA. Allostatic Load and Its Impact on Health: A Systematic Review. Psychother Psychosom. 2021;90(1):11-27. doi: 10.1159/000510696. Epub 2020 Aug 14. PMID: 32799204. Juster RP, McEwen BS, Lupien SJ. Allostatic load biomarkers of chronic stress and impact on health and cognition. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2010 Sep;35(1):2-16. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2009.10.002. Epub 2009 Oct 12. PMID: 19822172. Komegae EN, Farmer DGS, Brooks VL, McKinley MJ, McAllen RM, Martelli D. Vagal afferent activation suppresses systemic inflammation via the splanchnic anti-inflammatory pathway. Brain Behavior Immune. 2018 Oct;73:441-449. doi: 10.1016/j.bbi.2018.06.005. Epub 2018 Jun 5. PMID: 29883598; PMCID: PMC6319822. Jin H, Li M, Jeong E, Castro-Martinez F, Zuker CS. A body-brain circuit that regulates body inflammatory responses. Nature. 2024 Jun;630(8017):695-703. doi: 10.1038/s41586-024-07469-y. Epub 2024 May 1. PMID: 38692285; PMCID: PMC11186780.