Prof. Tomer Shlomi
Our group aims to derive a comprehensive and quantitative view of cellular metabolism by combining experimental and computational tools.
Our major experimental platform is metabolomics via mass-spectrometry (LC/MS), enabling the detection and quantification of hundreds of metabolites per biological sample. To facilitate the determination of metabolic flux, we employ isotope-tracing techniques, and develop novel analytical approaches and algorithms for interpreting generated data. On the computational front, we further specialize in developing methods for analyzing genome-scale metabolic network models via constraint-based modeling (CBM).
A special research focus of the lab is studying metabolic derangements in cancer cells. We are interested in answering the following questions: How is metabolism altered in specific cancers? Can we comprehensively quantify such metabolic changes? Are metabolic derangements tumorigenic? Or are they simply byproducts of other tumorigenic events? How are these metabolic alterations regulated? Through which signaling pathways? Are they triggered by specific genomic events? Do specific metabolic alterations in cancer cells make them vulnerable to pharmacological intervention? Does drug resistance alter metabolism, and is there a way around this?