Dr. Celeste Simon

Biography

M. Celeste Simon received her Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Rockefeller University in 1985. She is a Professor in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. Her research primarily focuses on cancer cell metabolism, tumor immunology, and metastasis in response to oxygen and nutrient deprivation within the tumor microenvironment. Simon’s lab employs various cutting-edge techniques including bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics to investigate the molecular mechanisms that regulate tumor responses under hypoxic conditions. Her work also explores how cancer cells adapt their metabolism to promote survival and tumor growth in nutrient-limited environments, particularly in human cancers such as pancreatic, liver, and renal cancers. The lab actively integrates multi-omic approaches to develop and evaluate hypotheses through genetically engineered mouse models and patient-derived organoids. Simon’s research has contributed to identifying potential therapeutic targets, such as the HIF2α inhibitor Belzutifan for kidney cancer, currently being investigated in clinical trials. She collaborates with various cancer researchers to further understand the interplay between tumor cells and the immune microenvironment, aiming to enhance therapeutic strategies for effective cancer treatment.

Research Interests