From Nigeria to England, to Germany to the U.S., Prof. Zeribe Nwosu journeyed around the globe in pursuit of academic experiences that shaped his approach to research, mentorship and outreach.
Nwosu is a professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics. After completing his undergraduate studies in Nigeria, he earned a master's degree in biomedical science in England, pursued a Ph.D. at the University of Heidelberg, moved to the University of Michigan for postdoctoral research and finally joined Cornell as a faculty member in 2023. Now, he operates a lab focusing on cancer metabolism.
The Nwosu Lab at Cornell focuses on cancer metabolism, which is how cancer cells utilize nutrients to support their survival. By understanding specific metabolic pathways, weaknesses in cancer cells can be revealed, after which treatments can be formulated. Thus, cancer metabolism is a crucial field in terms of targeted treatments and understanding the behavior of cancer cells.
"Metabolism allows us to study how cancer cells use nutrients and also to study how they will respond if we compromise their nutrient access,” Nwosu said. “For me, metabolism was a no-brainer as a subject that needs to be studied.”
His team explores numerous potential treatments, for instance, by compromising specific metabolic pathways. One promising and essential tool in Nwosu’s research is mass spectrometry, which determines molecular mass and allows for molecules in a sample to be measured. This in turn allows for detailed examinations of metabolic changes in cancer.
"We can learn a lot about how cells make certain amino acids and how those amino acids feed into cancer metabolism. The impact of this research extends beyond cancer and can be applied to diseases like diabetes," he said.
Looking ahead, the Nwosu Lab is exploring several key areas in cancer metabolism. To do so, they are investigating tumor growth by controlling nutrient acquisition and transport, as well as exploring epigenetic regulation of tumor metabolism.
Epigenetic regulation involves controlling gene expression without altering DNA sequences. Additionally, the Nwosu lab group has identified specific histones — proteins that organize DNA in cells — that play a significant role in metabolism, not just in cancer cells but also in immune cells. They hope to understand the role of these histones in pancreatic cancer.
Nwosu leads a research team of around twenty members, which involves mentorship and collaboration efforts. His motivation to conduct research, manage a large research team and mentor others comes from “the excitement of working with people.”
"The more perspectives and personalities I interact with, the more stimulating the research environment becomes,” Nwosu said. “My challenge is to keep everyone motivated."
Beyond research, Nwosu is committed to giving back to society through the Zeribe Nwosu Foundation, an organization dedicated to expanding education and research opportunities for students in Nigeria and beyond.
He describes the foundation as having a “three-pronged approach: education, mentorship and scholarships.” This involves providing academic resources, personalized guidance in terms of students’ career paths, financial support and more.
Nwosu hopes to grow the reach of the foundation in the future. One key goal is to extend its reach in Africa while also expanding to areas such as the U.S.
"We want to increase outreach and diversify our impact,” Nwosu said. “I want to see the foundation become a lot more independent of any specific individual."
For young scientists hoping to pursue research or other interests, Nwosu emphasizes the importance of curiosity and commitment.
“It's very important to have a curious mind. You have to have that sort of addiction for wanting more information,” Nwosu said, “Always show motivation. Always show commitment.”
Bhavya Anoop can be reached at ba436@cornell.edu.
