Eduardo N. Maldonado, DVM, Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department: Drug Discovery & Biomedical Sciences
Programs: Inflammation, End Organ Disease

 

 

Research Interests:

Dr. Maldonado’s laboratory studies mitochondrial metabolism and bioenergetics in cancer and different cell types. His research program focuses on the interplay between mitochondrial metabolism and the Warburg phenotype in proliferating cells, and the regulation of mitochondrial-dependent bioenergetics in embryonic stem cells, cancer stem cells and skeletal muscle.

A main research line in his lab is the study of the regulation of voltage dependent anion channels (VDACs) located in the mitochondrial outer membrane, as global modulators of mitochondrial metabolism. He recently proposed VDAC opening as a pro-oxidant anti-Warburg switch. The discovery of free tubulin as an endogenous regulator of VDAC opening in cancer cells, led Dr. Maldonado to propose the VDAC-tubulin interaction as a pharmacological target to revert mitochondrial suppression in the Warburg phenotype. The central concept of Dr. Maldonado’s research is that VDAC opening promotes cell killing by a combination of increased oxidative metabolism, oxidative stress and reversal of the Warburg effect. Currently, Dr. Maldonado’s lab is developing small molecules to antagonize the inhibitory effect of tubulin on VDAC and also to stabilize VDAC in an open configuration. The expectation is to develop new drugs for treating liver and other types of cancer acting as “metabolic modifiers” to be used alone, or as coadjuvants of preexisting therapies.

Overall, Dr. Maldonado’s lab combines basic science approaches including molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology with drug development. Students, postdocs, and scientists at different levels are always welcomed for collaborations and temporary or long-term visits. Dr. Maldonado also created Mitobonds, a network fostering the worldwide exchange of scientists among labs interested in mitochondrial research.

Publications:

PubMed Collection