WMCWeill Medical College of Cornell University · Pharmacology
Cancer Signaling and Metabolism Lab
John Blenis · New York, New York
Research Focus
Dr. John Blenis's lab at Weill Medical College focuses on understanding the intricate signaling pathways that regulate cancer cell growth, metabolism, and resistance to therapy. The lab investigates how tumor cells can exploit metabolic processes, like propionate metabolism, to enhance their invasive capabilities and respond to treatment. By delving into mechanisms like mTORC1 signaling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), the research aims to identify new therapeutic targets and biomarkers to improve cancer intervention.
mTORC1signal transductionepithelial-to-mesenchymal transitioncancer metabolismtherapeutic resistancemetabolomicsS6K1biomarkerspropionate metabolism
Research Aims
5AIM 01Explore how mTORC1 signaling influences cancer cell growth and therapy resistance.
AIM 02Investigate the role of dietary fatty acids in mTORC1 activation in breast cancer.
AIM 03Characterize the impacts of methylmalonic acid on cancer cell invasion during EMT.
AIM 04Define how metabolic changes during EMT contribute to cancer progression.
AIM 05Identify novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets associated with drug resistance.
Skills the Lab Values
cell cultureWestern blotmetabolomicsproteomicstranscriptomicsimmunohistochemistrymouse modelsbiochemical assaysdata analysis
Output against the department
Publications337top 22% of dept.101st of 462
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations68ktop 3% of dept.12th of 462
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.