University of Michigan-Ann Arbor · Biomedical EngineeringNagrath Metabolism Lab
Deepak Nagrath · Ann Arbor, Michigan
Research Focus
Dr. Deepak Nagrath's research lab at the University of Michigan investigates how pancreatic cancer interacts with its surrounding environment to influence tumor growth and progression. The lab aims to understand the unique role of stromal cells in supporting cancer metabolism, particularly focusing on branched chain amino acids. By exploring these interactions, they hope to uncover new therapeutic strategies for treating pancreatic cancer.
pancreatic cancertumor microenvironmentstromal cellsbranched chain amino acidscancer metabolismBCKACAFmetabolic regulationsolid tumorstargeted therapy
Research Aims
5AIM 01Investigate the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts in supporting branched chain amino acid metabolism in pancreatic tumors.
AIM 02Analyze the metabolic effects of SMAD4 deletion in pancreatic cancer cells on stromal cell transformation.
AIM 03Validate potential therapeutic targets in the stromal metabolic pathways using patient-derived organoids and tissue slices.
AIM 04Evaluate the efficacy of BCAT1 inhibitors in modulating cancer-stromal interactions.
AIM 05Uncover novel insights into the metabolic crosstalk between pancreatic cancer cells and their microenvironment.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureimmunohistochemistryCRISPR gene editingin vivo mouse modelsmetabolic tracing with isotopesorganoid cultureproteolysis assayscell signaling analysisbiochemical assaysRNA extraction and analysis
Output against the department
Publications230top 45% of dept.266th of 595
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations8.1ktop 42% of dept.251st of 595
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.