Eva Schmelz

Eva Schmelz is a Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). She serves as Director of the Cancer Biology Track in the Translational Biology, Medicine, and Health Program at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute. Dr. Schmelz holds additional roles as Principal Scientist in the Integrated Life Sciences Building and faculty member in the School of Biomedical Engineering and Sciences (SBES) at Virginia Tech/Wake Forest University. Her academic career includes prior positions as Associate Professor (2007–2020) and Assistant Professor at institutions such as Wayne State University and Emory University.

Educated at Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, she earned a Ph.D. in Human Biology (1992) and an M.S. in Human Nutrition (1983). Her research focuses on ovarian cancer metastasis mechanisms, particularly mitochondrial plasticity in cancer cells, obesity’s role in cancer progression, and metabolic adaptations during metastasis. She investigates how cancer cells survive hypoxic and nutrient-deprived conditions in the peritoneal cavity.

Dr. Schmelz’s work integrates biophysical and biochemical approaches, including studies on dielectrophoresis and metabolic reprogramming. She collaborates with interdisciplinary teams at the Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Sciences (ICTAS) and the Center for Engineered Health. Her research contributions span over 60 peer-reviewed articles, with recent emphasis on mitochondrial dynamics, metabolic pathways, and therapeutic targeting of tumor-initiating cells.

Key affiliations include the Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center (since 2022), the Cell and Molecular Biology graduate program (Virginia Tech), and leadership roles in translational cancer research programs. Her lab explores innovative methods for diagnosing and treating metastatic ovarian cancer, leveraging insights from tumor microenvironment interactions and biophysical markers.