Exploring mitochondrial bioenergetics, cancer metabolic plasticity, and toxin-inspired drug discovery
The Metabolic Plasticity and Bioenergetics Lab (MPB Lab) at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, studies how mitochondrial bioenergetics is rewired during cancer progression, therapy response, and cellular adaptation. We are particularly interested in identifying metabolic vulnerabilities and discovering bioactive molecules with mitochondrial activity, including synthetic compounds and toxins derived from snake venoms and amphibian secretions.
Research lines
- Translational mitochondrial pharmacology
Studying mitochondrial function as a therapeutic target and source of pharmacological innovation. - Cancer metabolic plasticity
Understanding how cancer cells adapt their metabolism during proliferation, migration, and treatment-induced stress. - Oncovenomics
Exploring venom-derived molecules and toxin-inspired strategies for drug discovery in oncology. - Museomics and applied herpetology
Integrating biodiversity, biological collections, and molecular approaches to expand research in venomous species and herpetological science.
Advanced platforms and approaches
Our lab combines real-time metabolic profiling, imaging, RNA-seq, metabolomics, and advanced cellular phenotyping to study mitochondrial function and cell behavior in a dynamic, integrative manner. We have established an advanced automated platform for metabolic flux analysis, integrating XFe96, Cytation5, and BioSpa8, together with real-time migration and proliferation analysis based on electrical impedance.
What makes us different
UrraLab brings together mitochondrial biology, pharmacology, cancer research, toxinology, and biodiversity-based science within a single interdisciplinary environment. This integrative perspective allows us to move from mechanistic discovery to translational questions, while also creating new opportunities for training, collaboration, and scientific innovation in Latin America.
Join us or collaborate with us
We welcome students, collaborators, and partners interested in mitochondrial biology, cancer metabolism, venom-derived bioactive compounds, and interdisciplinary biomedical research, including opportunities for collaboration with biotechnology and biomedical companies, translational research partners, and oncology centers.
At UrraLab:
- We investigate how mitochondrial function shapes cell fate in cancer and other biological contexts.
- Our work integrates translational mitochondrial pharmacology, oncovenomics, and museomics to uncover new mechanisms, therapeutic vulnerabilities, and bioactive compounds of biomedical relevance.