Martha Zarou was the 2025 recipient of an EACR-The Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, funding that is awarded for a period of up to three years and support excellent postdoctoral researchers in laboratories throughout Europe.
She is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The Francis Crick Institute in the UK, where she studies the role of mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism in response to tissue damage responses and early tumour development in the pancreas.
We recently caught up with her to hear about the progress she has made in her research during this first year of her fellowship.
Can you tell us about the topic of the research you are undertaking during your fellowship?
My current research aims to investigate the role of mitochondrial one-carbon metabolism in response to tissue damage responses and early tumour development in the pancreas. Although pancreatic regeneration is tightly regulated, little is known about how metabolic pathways control tissue repair and tumour initiation. My work focuses on acinar cells, which drive injury response and immune cells, which coordinate inflammatory and repair responses. By defining how mitochondrial 1C metabolism regulates these processes in these cell types, I aim to identify metabolic mechanisms that influence pancreatic regeneration and the earliest stages of pancreatic cancer.
At this stage, how do you think the fellowship will be beneficial to your research and your career?
At this stage of my career, this fellowship provides an important opportunity to develop the skills and expertise needed to transition towards research independence and establish myself in the critical field of pancreatic cancer research. It enables me to pursue an innovative research project and broaden my expertise in pancreatic biology, metabolism and immunology. The fellowship allows me to pursue my own research direction within a supportive laboratory, giving me the opportunity to develop the skills required for transition to full independence. The fellowship also strengthens my scientific network through new collaboration opportunities.
What were the highlights from the first year of your fellowship?
The first year of the fellowship has been productive, generating some interesting findings that I am eager to pursue. I have acquired new scientific skills and developed expertise in pancreatic cancer research, which has synergized well with my previous expertise in one carbon metabolism and immune cell function. This has allowed me to build on a base of knowledge and expand into another important area of biomedical research and will form the basis for my independent research programme in the future. Another important highlight of the year was my participation in The Mark Foundation Symposium, which provided the opportunity to meet other The Mark Foundation postdoctoral fellows and expand my scientific network. In June, I also had the opportunity to present my work in the EACR-The Mark Foundation awardee session at the EACR Congress. I received valuable feedback and engaged with experts in the cancer field.
EACR-The Mark Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships
The goals of this funding programme are to support talented EACR members during their postdoctoral training, to advance innovative areas of cancer research, and to continue to grow a global network of scientists with diverse expertise. Learn more here.
About The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research
The Mark Foundation for Cancer Research, a charitable organization based in New York City, actively partners with scientists worldwide to accelerate research that will transform cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Since 2017, The Mark Foundation has awarded over $300 million in grants to investigators at more than 120 academic institutions across 18 countries, with research programs focusing on early career support, team science collaboration, new technology innovation, and therapeutics discovery. Additionally, The Mark Foundation maintains a growing portfolio of investments in early-stage cancer diagnostics and therapeutics companies, including several that have transitioned from grantee projects into commercial development. To learn more, please visit www.themarkfoundation.org.
