Dr. Christian Dibble

Biography

Christian Dibble is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. His research focuses on understanding the regulatory relationships between cellular signaling pathways and metabolic pathways, particularly the PI3K (phosphoinositide-3-kinase) signaling pathway, which is a major regulator of glucose and lipid metabolism. Dibble’s lab investigates how corrupted signaling pathways contribute to human cancer, emphasizing the role of PI3K in promoting nutrient uptake and anabolic metabolism. His work demonstrates that the physiological activation of PI3K by ligands such as hormones and growth factors ties cellular metabolism to the systemic metabolic status of organisms. In cancer, PI3K signaling becomes growth factor-independent due to mutations that are common in human cancers. His research aims to uncover novel regulatory relationships involving PI3K signaling and Coenzyme A metabolism, which are crucial for central carbon metabolic processes. Ultimately, his lab aspires to deepen the understanding of how metabolic pathways assist in driving tumorigenesis, which could allow for the development of therapeutic strategies targeting the signaling-metabolism nexus.

Research Interests