Cancer Metabolism Archives - Sanford Burnham Prebys

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.

Google Scholar profile

Emerling received her B.A. from the University of California Santa Cruz and her PhD in molecular and cellular biology from Northwestern University. Emerling did her postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School. She then became an Instructor of Cancer Biology in Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, where she continued her research on lipid kinase signaling and cancer metabolism. In August 2016, Brooke joined the faculty at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute as an Assistant Professor in the Cancer Metabolism and Signaling Networks Program. 

Funding Awards and Collaborative Grants

Breast Cancer Research Foundation – AACR Career Development Award for Translational Breast Cancer Research
Mary Kay Foundation Innovative Translational Grant Award
Department of Defense Breast Research Program Breakthrough Award 

Honors and Recognition

2014: NextGen Star – AACR Early-Career Speaker Award
2013-2016: Mastercard Ajay Banga Scientist Award
2013: AACR – Aflac Travel Fellowship Award

Press Release: Study offers new approach to starve p53 deficient tumors

9/25/18 Public Lecture – SBP Insights: Breast Cancer – Register Here

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