Christian Metallo, Ph.D.

For optimal growth, tumors depend on the non-essential amino acids serine and glycine. Serine and glycine are biosynthetically linked and together, they provide the essential precursors for the synthesis of proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids that are critical to cancer cell growth, as well as supporting tumor homeostasis.

Over the last decade, scientists have learned that suppressing the amino acids from animal diets slows the growth of some tumors. Most researchers have focused on how these diets affect epigenetics, DNA metabolism, and antioxidant activity. However, researchers from the University of California (UC), San Diego, and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have taken a different approach to slowing tumor growth, by focusing on serine’s metabolism.

Their study, “Serine restriction alters sphingolipid diversity to constrain tumor growth,” is published in Nature and led by Christian M. Metallo, PhD, professor of bioengineering at the Jacobs School of Engineering at UC San Diego… Continue reading.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) has announced the induction of Christian Metallo, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Bioengineering, University of California, San Diego, to its College of Fellows.

Election to the AIMBE College of Fellows is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to a medical and biological engineer. The College of Fellows is comprised of the top two percent of medical and biological engineers. College membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to “engineering and medicine research, practice, or education” and to “the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of medical and biological engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to bioengineering education.”

Dr. Metallo was nominated, reviewed, and elected by peers and members of the College of Fellows for “the development and application of metabolic flux analysis technologies to elucidate the biochemical pathways that drive cancer and diabetes.“