Heather R Christofk

Heather R. Christofk is a Professor in the Department of Biological Chemistry at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Her research focuses on the intricate relationship between cellular metabolism and various biological processes, particularly in the contexts of cancer development, stem cell function, and viral infections.

Education:

• PhD in Cell and Developmental Biology from Harvard University (2007)
• BS in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from UCLA (2001)

Dr. Christofk's research program centers on understanding how metabolic pathways regulate cellular processes in both normal physiology and disease states. Her laboratory has made significant contributions to understanding how cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to support rapid growth and proliferation, with particular focus on glucose metabolism, amino acid utilization, and metabolic adaptations in tumor microenvironments. She has also pioneered work on the metabolic regulation of stem cell function, especially in hair follicle stem cells, demonstrating how metabolic pathways control stem cell activation and differentiation. Her research has important implications for developing novel therapeutic approaches that target cancer metabolism while preserving normal tissue function.

Analysis of Dr. Christofk's recent publications reveals a strong focus on metabolic heterogeneity across different biological contexts. Her work spans cancer metabolism (particularly in liposarcoma, melanoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma), stem cell metabolism (especially hair follicle stem cells), viral metabolism (including Epstein-Barr virus and Zika virus), and developmental metabolism (fetal development and organogenesis). A recurring theme is how metabolic pathways serve as regulatory nodes that control cell fate decisions, tumor progression, and therapeutic responses.

Selected Research Funding:

• Metabolic Control of Hair Follicle Stem Cell Homeostasis and Tumorigenesis (NIH R01AR070245, 2018-2023) - Co-Principal Investigator
• Nutrient regulation of cancer cell growth (NIH R01CA215185, 2017-2022) - Principal Investigator
• Regulation of the Warburg Effect in Cancer (NIH DP2OD008454, 2011-2016) - Principal Investigator

Dr. Christofk's laboratory maintains active collaborations across multiple disciplines, working with clinicians, basic scientists, and computational biologists to address complex questions in metabolism and disease. Her team employs a range of cutting-edge techniques including metabolomics, stable isotope tracing, molecular biology, and in vivo models to investigate metabolic regulation in health and disease.