Currently, Dr. Bernal's lab is focused on the human mitochondrial chaperonin hsp60 and its co-chaperonin hsp10. Almost every function in a cell is the result of the action of proteins and so it is critical that proteins fold properly through the use of specialized protein complexes called chaperonins. Dr. Bernal's research investigates the process by which human chaperonins fold misfolded proteins by probing the changes in the chaperonin that take place during a protein folding cycle. Understanding how protein folding intermediates function might then lead to targets for the treatment of diseases such as hereditary spastic paraplegia and mitochondrial hsp60 chaperonopathy. Dr. Bernal's research has now expanded to include the role of bacteriophages in eliminating bacterial contamination that blocks pipelines in the oil and gas industry.