HIGD1A and metabolic dormancy

Ischemic tissues found within tumors or infarcted tissues surrounding the necrotic core need to institute adaptive mechanisms to survive. Metabolic dormancy, whereby cells decrease their bioenergetic needs, represents an important survival mechanism. We study how a HIF-target gene, HIGD1A, enables these cells and tissues to survive these extreme environments.

HIGD1A and tumor dormancy

Dormancy mechanisms allow tumors to evade  treatments designed to kill rapidly dividing cells by slowing metabolism and proliferation. Dormant micro tumors are then able to reemerge, even years after the institution of therapy, frequently with greater voracity. We study how HIGD1A regulates this process.  

targeting tumor dormancy

By carefully analyzing HIGD1A's effects on cellular metabolic flux patterns, we are attempting to identify novel therapeutic targets to enable us to target metabolically dormant tumors.