Valerie Bhatt

Valerie Bhatt investigates the metabolic programs that sustain cancer-associated fibroblast function and how stromal metabolism influences tumor microenvironment composition. Her research revealed that CAFs undergo distinct metabolic reprogramming to meet the energetic demands of tumor support, including upregulation of oxidative phosphorylation and fatty acid metabolism. She identified metabolic vulnerabilities in CAFs that can be therapeutically targeted to sensitize tumors to immunotherapy. Her work at the Francis Crick Institute connects CAF biology with emerging cancer metabolism research.