Postdoc Positions on Cell Metabolism in Skeletal Disorders and Bone Metastasis

The laboratory of professor Geert Carmeliet investigates the role of cell metabolism of skeletal cells in bone physiology and disorders, and the adaptations in tumor cell metabolism during bone metastasis. The lab is looking for a dynamic, highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the team. Our recent work shows that metabolism of skeletal cells regulates bone development and is crucial for bone regeneration (Stegen S, Cell Metab 2016; Stegen S, Nature 2019; van Gastel N, Nature 2020; Stegen S, Dev Cell 2020). Moreover, these studies reveal that targeting skeletal cell metabolism could be a possible therapeutic strategy to improve bone regeneration and to treat skeletal disorders such as osteoporosis and osteoarthritis. In addition, our data indicate that tumor cells that metastasize to bone are characterized by a specific metabolic profile. The current aim of the lab is to characterize in-depth (i) the role of cell metabolism of different skeletal cell types in skeletal disorders and (ii) the metabolic adaptations in tumor cells that regulate bone metastasis. The scientific approach combines advanced metabolic and (single-cell) transcriptomic analyses with state-of-the-art cell biological and molecular assays. The importance of the identified metabolic pathways will be validated by genetic or pharmacological approaches in vitro and in preclinical bone pathology models in mice.