Cellular and Molecular Metabolism

Research in Cellular and Molecular Metabolism at UVA focuses on the study of all chemical reactions in an organism and how dysregulation of these processes contributes to disease. These processes are tightly regulated under normal conditions to maintain homeostasis and ensure appropriate energy intake and fuel utilization. Regulation includes second-to-second flux of allosteric metabolites, intermediate control via signaling intermediates such as calcium and phosphorylation, and long-term regulation by transcription.

Dysregulation of fundamental metabolic processes can impair glucose or lipid homeostasis, alter mitochondrial function, and disrupt cell signaling cascades, leading to chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and atherosclerosis.

The metabolism group at UVA actively investigates how and why these defects occur, with the ultimate goal of improving both preventative therapy and treatment.  The diverse expertise of the metabolism group provides training opportunities that utilize molecular and cellular biology and genetic approaches in the context of whole animal physiology, drug discovery, and translational medicine.

Students in the metabolism group are supported by several institutional training grants including: Pharmacological Sciences Training Grant; Cell & Molecular Biology Training Grant; and Biotechnology Training Program.