Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (NY)
Almudena Chaves Pérez
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre (NY)
The acquisition and maintenance of specific cell fates are fundamental processes in tissueregeneration and cancer progression. While much attention has been given to genetic and signaling pathways, metabolism is emerging as a powerful—and often underappreciated—regulator of cell fate. My postdoctoral work explores how metabolic rewiring influences cell identity, communication, and tissue function, with the goal of uncovering new metabolism-driven therapeutic strategies for regenerative medicine and oncology. Our studies have identified the mitochondrial enzyme α-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH) as a key metabolic node that regulates stem cell differentiation during intestinal repair, reveals vulnerabilities in cancer, and has the potential to reprogram the tumor microenvironment to enhance immune responses. Together, these findings highlight a unifying framework in which metabolism shapes both intrinsic cellular states and interactions with the surrounding microenvironment. This seminar will present an integrated view of how targeting metabolic pathways can guide regeneration or sensitize tumors to therapy and discuss how this framework can inform future research at the intersection of metabolism, cell fate, and therapeutic innovation.