Investigating the role of alternative endothelial cell specific metabolic pathways during angiogenesis.

In this project I will focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying blood vessel formation (angiogenesis). Angiogenesis is an important process in our body as it provides all of the tissues and organs the necessary nutrients and oxygen. Unfortunately, it can also contribute to the development of cancer cells. This is achieved by the secretion of distress signals by the cancer cells. As a consequence, the endothelial cells (building blocks of blood vessels) come to the aid by the formation of novel blood vessels, providing them with nutrients and oxygen. When endothelial cells migrate to the cancer cells they have to go from a nutrient rich environment (the blood) towards a nutrient poor environment. It is unclear how they manage doing this, especially since it was shown that major molecular mechanisms are still operational, and these depend on specific nutrients that cannot be simply found during their migration. In my project I want to investigate how these endothelial cells manage this, I want to identify the molecular mechanisms that allow them to survive in these nutrient-poor conditions. As such, I will be able to find highly specific targets that might improve the current anti-angiogenic therapies applied in the clinic.