Kevin Tharp studies the interplay between mitochondrial metabolism and the physical properties of the tumor microenvironment, using genetically engineered mouse models and bioengineered human tumor models to define the mitochondrial programming unique to cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment.
His goal is to develop new therapies that block the metabolic adaptations that cancer cells use to metastasize, a major cause of cancer-associated mortality.
“I study how cells make decisions about their metabolic programming, which I expect will enable us to develop new therapeutics against metastatic tumor cells.”
Tharp previously worked as a postdoctoral scholar in the Center for Bioengineering & Tissue Regeneration at UCSF Health.
He completed his PhD in metabolic biology at UC Berkeley and his Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology at UC Santa Cruz, where he graduated with honors and the Dean’s Award in Chemistry.
He has received meritorious funding awards from the Sandler Foundation and the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute for his postdoctoral research.