Molecular and translational metabolism
metabolism, nuclear receptor, metabolic disease
Research aim
The van Mil group aims to better understand the underlying cause of human metabolic diseases and associated cancer development and to spur and contribute to the development of improved diagnostics as well as improved therapeutic approaches.
About us
The deciphering of metabolic pathways was one of the first major breakthroughs in modern molecular research in life sciences, detailed on the well-known Boehringer wall-charts. The interest in metabolism has been high ever since, and knowledge on biochemical pathways has developed hand in hand with the discovery of hundreds of inborn errors of metabolism. In the last decades, with the rise of acquired metabolic/inflammatory diseases such as diabetes, metabolic syndrome, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and necrotizing enterocolitis, the interest in molecular metabolism has become even more important. Especially, since there is a high prevalence of developing cancer due to derailed metabolism. The analysis of molecular metabolism has therefore become an intricate part in our quests to understand the cause and consequences of these diseases and associated cancers and to find new treatment modalities.
We are especially interested in the family of metabolic Nuclear Receptors, transcription factors that are activated by certain diet/fasting-induced metabolites. By regulating transcriptional programs that dictate how our body deals with dietary influx of energy substrates, these nuclear receptors are seen as important drug targets for metabolic disease. By gaining a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms of how they work, we aim to pave the way for novel treatment options for metabolic diseases. www.vanmil-lab.org/