The Han Laboratory investigates the intracellular signaling and metabolic regulatory roles of amino acids in human disease. While amino acids are traditionally recognized as fundamental substrates for protein synthesis, they also function as dynamic signaling molecules that govern cellular metabolism, redox balance, mitochondrial activity, and cell fate decisions.

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Our research seeks to uncover how amino acid sensing and metabolic flux are integrated within intracellular signaling networks, and how dysregulation of these systems contributes to complex diseases, particularly cancer and age-associated disorders.

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We are particularly interested in:

• How amino acid–derived metabolites regulate mitochondrial function and metabolic rewiring

• How nutrient sensing establishes causal signaling circuits that drive tumor progression

• How metabolic competition reshapes tumor–immune interactions

• How metabolic vulnerabilities can be therapeutically targeted

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Our laboratory integrates cancer metabolism, chemical biology, structural modeling, and AI-assisted drug discovery to identify and pharmacologically target novel metabolic nodes. Through mechanistic studies and translational approaches, we aim to move beyond descriptive metabolomics and define the causal roles of amino acid metabolism in disease progression.

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By bridging nutrient signaling biology with therapeutic development, we strive to establish metabolism-driven precision oncology strategies.