The Rathmell lab aims to identify how metabolic pathways and nutrient microenvironments regulate lymphocyte metabolism, differentiation, and function. The activation of T lymphocytes remodels cell metabolism to support cell growth, proliferation, and signaling essential for effector differentiation and function. The field of immunometabolism explores mechanisms of this metabolic reprogramming and how metabolic pathways influence immune cell fate and function. The Rathmell lab uses genetic and metabolic techniques to discover mechanisms how (1) obesity affects cancer immunotherapy and (2) inflammatory microenvironments shape immune cell metabolism.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Postdoc - Cancer biology & metabolism
2003
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Postdoc - Cancer biology & metabolism
1999
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
PhD - Immunology
1996
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA
B.S. - Biology
1991
Intrinsic T cell glutaminolysis promotes autoimmunity in lupus-prone mice.
Intrinsic T cell glutaminolysis promotes autoimmunity in lupus-prone mice. JCI Insight. 2025 Sep 16.
PMID: 40956613
Potentiating cancer immunotherapies with modular albumin-hitchhiking nanobody-STING agonist conjugates.
Potentiating cancer immunotherapies with modular albumin-hitchhiking nanobody-STING agonist conjugates. Nat Biomed Eng. 2025 Jun 11.
PMID: 40500332
Mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis and MECR regulate CD4+ T cell function and oxidative metabolism.
Mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis and MECR regulate CD4+ T cell function and oxidative metabolism. J Immunol. 2025 May 01; 214(5):958-976.
PMID: 40204636
PTEN inhibits scavenger receptor-mediated phagocytosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
PTEN inhibits scavenger receptor-mediated phagocytosis of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Immunohorizons. 2025 Apr 26; 9(6).
PMID: 40288813
Comparison of Lean, Obese, and Weight-Loss Models Reveals TREM2 Deficiency Attenuates Breast Cancer Growth Uniquely in Lean Mice and Alters Clonal T-cell Populations.
Comparison of Lean, Obese, and Weight-Loss Models Reveals TREM2 Deficiency Attenuates Breast Cancer Growth Uniquely in Lean Mice and Alters Clonal T-cell Populations. Cancer Res. 2025 Apr 03; 85(7):1219-1235.
PMID: 39841585
Incretin triple agonist retatrutide (LY3437943) alleviates obesity-associated cancer progression.
Incretin triple agonist retatrutide (LY3437943) alleviates obesity-associated cancer progression. NPJ Metab Health Dis. 2025; 3(1):10.
PMID: 40094000
Publisher Correction: The glucose transporter 2 regulates CD8+ T cell function via environment sensing.
Publisher Correction: The glucose transporter 2 regulates CD8+ T cell function via environment sensing. Nat Metab. 2025 Mar; 7(3):634.
PMID: 40000839
Metabolic and stress response adaptations in T cells to fever and physiological heat.
Metabolic and stress response adaptations in T cells to fever and physiological heat. Trends Immunol. 2025 Mar; 46(3):195-205.
PMID: 39984354
Metabolic Adaptations Rewire CD4 T Cells in a Subset-Specific Manner in Human Critical Illness with and without Sepsis.
Metabolic Adaptations Rewire CD4 T Cells in a Subset-Specific Manner in Human Critical Illness with and without Sepsis. bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 29.
PMID: 39975258
Impaired oxidative phosphorylation drives primary tumor escape and metastasis.
Impaired oxidative phosphorylation drives primary tumor escape and metastasis. bioRxiv. 2025 Jan 09.
PMID: 39829901
Fred W. Alt Award for New Discoveries in Immunology
Cancer Research Institute
2025
Honorary Member
American Society for Clinical Investigator
2025
Waddell Walker Hancock Cancer Discovery Scholar
Vanderbilt University
2024
Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher
2022 - 24
Nature Milestones: Highlighted for discoveries in T cell immunometabolism
Nature Publishing
2022
Charles Randal Park Award for Outstanding Contributions to Research
Vanderbilt University
2022
Molecular Pathology & Immunology Graduate Program Faculty Teaching Award
Vanderbilt University
2020 - 2021
William E. Paul Distinguished Innovator Award
Lupus Research Alliance
2019
Fellow
American Association for the Advancement of Science
2019
Scholar
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
2009
Bernard Osher Fellow
American Asthma Foundation
2008
Lisa Stafford Memorial Award for Excellence in Cancer Research
Duke University
2008
Research Scholar
American Cancer Society
2007
Research Scholar
V Foundation for Cancer Research
2004
Research Scholar
Sidney Kimmel Foundation
2004
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Irvington Institute for Immunological Research
1998 - 2001
Graduate Research Fellowship
National Science Foundation
1991 - 1993
Purple and Gold Award to top graduate in Biology
University of Northern Iowa
1991
Most Outstanding New Chemistry and New Biology Student
University of Northern Iowa
1988