Kacper Rogala, Dphil, Assistant Professor, Department of Structural Biology and Chemical & Systems Biology, Stanford University

Research Description: The objective of the Rogala Laboratory at Stanford is to reveal the fundamental mechanisms of nutrient sensing and nutrient trafficking. Key questions the lab seeks to answer include: How are nutrients recognized by their protein sensors? How is their transport regulated across cellular and intracellular membranes? And how is nutrient sensing integrated with other chemical signals, such as growth factors, to influence cellular decisions, particularly the decision: to grow or not to grow? Dr. Rogala is a trained structural biologist with expertise in X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and various other biophysical techniques. The Rogala Lab operates at the intersection of biology and chemistry to answer these fundamental questions at the level of atoms and single molecules. The lab employs a comprehensive array of approaches, drawing from structural biology, chemical biology, cell biology, biophysics, and bioengineering. Dr. Rogala also serves as a Leader in Structure-based Drug Discovery at the Stanford Cancer Institute. In this role, Dr. Rogala focuses on persistent cancer cells that evade all existing therapeutic interventions. Many cancer cells rewire their metabolism and nutrient acquisition pathways to survive chemotherapy and harsh conditions, such as nutrient or oxygen deprivation. The Rogala Lab is dedicated to identifying the metabolic vulnerabilities of these resilient cancer cells and developing proof-of-concept therapeutic strategies to halt their growth. Dr. Rogala’s work is equally relevant to metabolism and obesity as the mTOR complex is critical to gate insulin, nutrient, and adipogenesis pathways. Dr. Rogala collaborates extensively with many members of the NORC.