Monther Abu-Remaileh, PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Genetics, Stanford University

Research Description: My research focuses on the role of subcellular metabolism in health and disease, particularly the lysosome, which maintains cellular homeostasis by recycling nutrients and removing damaged components. While lysosomes are known to be involved in diseases like cancer, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders, their specific contributions remain poorly understood. My interdisciplinary lab employs genetics, chemical biology, and omics approaches to study lysosomal function under various conditions. Building on my previous findings that highlight the lysosome's dynamic response to metabolic states, we aim to develop quantitative tools to investigate lysosomal dysfunction in cancer, childhood neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases, and age-related neurodegeneration. We also examine the interactions between lysosomes and major organelles like the Golgi and mitochondria that support metabolic balance. Our pioneering technologies for studying cellular metabolism at the subcellular level have significantly advanced multiple fields. We clarified the role of the CLN3 protein, linked to the most common childhood neurodegenerative disease (Laqtom, Nature 2022; Nyame, Mol Cell 2024). A major achievement was the discovery of BMP synthase (Medoh, Science 2023), which has transformative implications for neurodegenerative disease treatment. Additionally, we redefined lysosomal phospholipid catabolism's role in cancer metabolism and neuronal health (Scharenberg, Science Advances 2023) and expanded our research to include the GolgiIP method (Fasimoye, PNAS 2023) and the Phago-IP method for purifying phagosomes. We collaborate extensively with groups led by NORC members Bertozzi and Long.