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Tigist Tamir

Tigist Tamir, PhD, is a UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center member with research interest in cancer cell signaling using proteomics, metabolomics, and computational modeling to study the processes that promote resistance to cancer therapy.

PhD
Assistant Professor, Biochemistry and Biophysics
Assistant Professor, Nutrition
Computational Medicine Program
UNC-Chapel Hill
Cancer Cell Biology Research Program

Area of Interest

My research program is focused on understanding how cellular signaling networks regulate cellular redox homeostasis. Specifically, asking how signaling regulation of redox metabolism supports therapy resistance. Oxidative stress, a byproduct of energy production essential for all living organisms, arises from an imbalance of reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and carbonyl species (ROS/RNS/RCS). These highly reactive molecules present a significant waste management challenge within cells. Through evolution, oxidative stress response (OSR) pathways have emerged as critical guardian of cellular homeostasis, adept at neutralizing potentially harmful reactive molecules. Dysregulation of OSR—whether due to insufficient or excessive capacity to resolve oxidative damage—is a hallmark of numerous human diseases. For example, cancer cells co-opt OSR pathways by rewiring signaling and metabolism which leads to the development of resistance to chemotherapy. The Systems Metabolism and Signaling Lab (i.e. Tamir Lab) seeks to unravel the biochemical intricacies of how cells defend against oxidative stress. Our goal is to identify metabolic vulnerabilities, targetable pathways, and deconvolute altered metabolic networks in cancer cells using integrative omics analysis of preclinical models and patient samples. Research topics: Cell signaling, metabolism, redox homeostasis, phosphoproteomics, metabolomics, mass spectrometry, computational modeling, biochemistry.

Find publications on PubMed

Awards and Honors

  • NIGMS MOSAIC Postdoctoral Career Transition Award to Promote Diversity (K99/R00), 2023
  • Eddie Mendez Postdoctoral Scholar Symposium, Fred Hutch Cancer Center, 2023
  • UNC Rising Star Program, Dept of Pharmacology, UNC-CH, 2023
  • UVA Emerging Leaders in BME Symposium, Dept of BME, UVA, 2022
  • Future Leaders in Biochemistry & Biophysics Symposium, Dept of B&B, U. Penn., 2022
  • Burroughs Wellcome Fund – PDEP, 2021
  • Leading Edge Fellow, 2021
  • Convergence Scholar, MIT Center for Precision Cancer Medicine, Koch Institute, 2020
  • HHMI Gilliam Fellowship, 2016
Headshot of Tigist Tamir.