Research in the lab focuses on metabolic aspects of health and disease.
Metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer – cancer cells rely on their metabolic changes for proliferation and survival. These essential adaptations can be exploited as a therapeutic strategy to specifically target cancer cells. Research on cancers mutated in the metabolic TCA cycle enzymes Succinate Dehydrogenase or Fumarate Hydratase explores this approach. In another project, we studied vulnerabilities that arise when cancer cells need to rewire their metabolism in metastasis to adapt to a new microenvironment. In acute lymphoblastic leukemia adaptation to the central nervous system microenvironment depends on the lipid metabolism enzyme Stearoyl CoA desaturase, and its inhibition decreases disease load in the brain [Link].
Cancer metabolism and the DNA damage response – Tumorigenic processes require changes in cellular metabolism and metabolic reprogramming is one of the earliest biological hallmarks of cancer. We study the role of the acetate capturing enzyme ACSS2 in modulating the DNA Damage Response following genotoxic stresses.
Cardiomyopathies caused by metabolic impairments – Inherited cardiomyopathies are caused by mutations that could be associated with impaired cardiomyocyte metabolism. Mitigating the adverse metabolic outcome could be the key to improving cardiac function and offer a new therapeutic approach.
Fatty liver Disease – Alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a major cause of death in the western world. To date, there are no specific approved drugs for either and treatment relies on dietary and lifestyle changes. We utilize our metabolomics capabilities working on in vitro and in vivo models to identify metabolic processes that can be targeted to modulate lipid metabolism in the liver.