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Simon Schwoerer, PhD

The Schwörer Lab is interested in understanding how nutrient availability and utilization regulate cell plasticity and cell type specific function.



To address this, we use fibroblasts as a model, as they are highly plastic and have a unique function (i.e., extracellular matrix production). Unlike cancer cells that are dictated by their oncogenic mutation, fibroblast state and function is fully responsive to environmental cues, such as signaling molecules, oxygen and the nutrients available to them.



The lab mainly focuses on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in pancreatic cancer, an aggressive tumor with abundant desmoplastic stroma and substantially altered nutrient availability. In addition, we also investigate the role of metabolism in fibroblast cell state decisions and function in the context of other tumor types and as well as inflammatory and fibrotic diseases of the lungs and skin.