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The Schwörer Lab studies the intricacies of nutrient availability and its influence on cellular plasticity and function. Specifically, the lab utilizes fibroblast models to understand how these highly adaptable cells produce extracellular matrix and respond to environmental cues. Unlike cancer cells, which are often driven by oncogenic mutations, fibroblasts are inherently responsive to their surroundings, modulation by signaling molecules, and the availability of nutrients and oxygen. The primary focus of the lab is on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in pancreatic cancer, where the unique tumor microenvironment is characterized by an aggressive desmoplastic stroma that alters nutrient availability. In addition to investigating CAFs, the lab explores the metabolic pathways influencing fibroblast cell states and their functional roles in various tumor types and inflammatory fibrotic diseases affecting the lungs and skin.
Department of Philosophy