Research group Roland Nilsson

Cellular metabolism

Metabolism is the process by which our body’s cells convert nutrients into energy and useful biological products. Much about cellular metabolism is still unknown, owing to the technical difficulties of directly measuring metabolic processes in living cells and tissues. Our research group tackles this problem using modern measurement techniques such as stable isotope tracing and high-resolution mass spectrometry, combined with mathematical models that help us make sense of the large amounts of data produced. Our work aims for a deeper and more quantitative understanding of how cells process nutrients, harvest energy and synthesize macromolecules; how metabolism differs between cell types; and how metabolism is altered in disease.

Biomedical focus areas include cancer metabolism, where metabolic enzymes activated specifically in cancer cells could be targeted by drugs to suppress cancer growth; and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a common disorder where metabolic changes in response to excessive liver fat may trigger inflammation and liver damage. We also perform collaborative studies together with expert groups in other metabolic disorders, where we provide technical expertise on metabolism measurements.

Team members