Navdeep Chandel

Navdeep Chandel has redefined the role of mitochondria in cancer by demonstrating that mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by the electron transport chain serve as essential signaling molecules that activate oncogenic pathways including HIF-1alpha stabilization, NF-kB activation, and MAPK signaling. His research showed that cancer cells require functional mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation for tumorigenesis, challenging the Warburg effect dogma that cancer cells rely solely on glycolysis. He demonstrated that targeting mitochondrial complex III selectively kills cancer stem cells that depend on oxidative metabolism. His work has established mitochondrial ROS as a therapeutic target in cancer.