Nicole Kiweler has now completed her first year of her EACR-Boehringer Ingelheim Postdoctoral Fellowship, funding that is awarded for a period of up to three years to support excellent postdoctoral researchers in laboratories throughout Europe.
Nicole is a Scientist in the Cancer Metabolism Group at the Department of Cancer Research of the Luxembourg Institute of Health (LIH) where she studies cancer metabolism and its relevance for metastasis. We recently caught up with her to hear about the progress she has made in her research during this first year.
Can you tell us about the topic of the research you are undertaking during your fellowship?
With my current research, I aim to further detail how cellular metabolism and here especially endogenous serine synthesis and one-carbon cycle flux in the cytosol and mitochondria influence the migratory activity of cancer cells. For this, I am applying a newly developed PHGDH inhibitor (BI9593) from Boehringer Ingelheim. Such further understanding of the reprogramming of cancer metabolism and of the effects of a potential therapeutic interference can offer opportunities to limit metastatic disease progression.
At this stage, how do you think the fellowship will be beneficial to your research and your career?
With the fellowship, I was in this first year able to extend my previous research findings in a broader in vitro background using therapy-relevant chemotherapeutics. On a wider scheme, it also allowed me to further dive into the highly interesting and relevant interplay of intracellular cancer metabolism and metastasis formation, a research area that I would like to pursue further in the future of my career.
What have been the highlights from the first year of your fellowship?
One highlight has certainly been the wonderful opportunity to join the EACR 2025 Congress conference in Lisbon and to present and discuss the concepts of my fellowship there. It was a great event to gain a broad overview on the research activities in the field and to connect and exchange with other scientist. Apart from that, it was exciting for me to be able to apply BI9593 in a wider setting as before to understand the potential further application of my previous findings.
EACR Postdoctoral Fellowships
To find out more about the EACR’s other Postdoctoral Fellowships, click here.
