Janane Rahbani, PhD

Dr. Rahbani aims at elucidating new basic molecular mechanisms that could provide opportunities for developing novel treatments to limit tumor progression, improve cachexia in cancer patients and combat obesity. The first focus of his laboratory is to understand the multiplex interplay of energy wasting pathways in cancer-associated cachexia. In particular, he is interested in identifying how futile cycles and thermogenesis in adipose tissues contribute to muscle atrophy and how fat and skeletal muscle adapt their metabolism during early stages of cachexia. The second focus of his laboratory is to constrain tumor growth by targeting adipose tissue metabolism and promoting the greatest amount of energy expenditure. Understanding the significant capacity for mitochondria in adipocytes to coordinate various biological outcomes by exerting control over cellular bioenergetics, biosynthesis and signaling will extend insight towards recognizing how to offset metabolic diseases, such as cancer, obesity and diabetes.