Dr. Kurmi’s laboratory studies how metabolism adapts in proliferative cells, such as cancer cells and activated T cells. We employ liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) systems and bioinformatics tools to identify abnormal metabolites and assess the prevalence of novel metabolite-protein interactions. Our goal is to understand how these metabolites influence proteins to regulate cellular physiology and contribute to disease progression. A key focus of our research is on the regulation of nitrogen metabolism by oncogenic signals. Additionally, our lab is investigating the fundamental principles of mitochondrial biogenesis in T cells, which uniquely lack key canonical regulators. By elucidating the biochemical mechanisms of metabolic adaptation at the cellular level, our ultimate objective is to translate this knowledge into therapeutic opportunities.
