Susan Bhatt

Susan Bhatt investigates the biochemistry of PDK1 and downstream effectors of the PI3K pathway that control cancer cell survival and growth. Her research has characterized how PDK1 phosphorylates and activates AKT as well as a broad range of AGC kinase family members including SGK1, S6K, and PKC isoforms. She has examined the role of PDK1 in mediating residual PI3K pathway activity that bypasses AKT under conditions of AKT inhibitor treatment. Her structural and biochemical work has informed the development of allosteric PDK1 inhibitors and the mechanistic understanding of how PI3K pathway signaling diversifies through multiple downstream effector kinases.