TAMEST Profile: Gerta Hoxhaj, Ph.D., Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center (CRI)

2025 Mary Beth Maddox Award and Lectureship Recipient Gerta Hoxhaj, Ph.D. is a prominent researcher and Assistant Professor at the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute (CRI) at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where she leads pioneering investigations into cancer metabolism.

With a focus on how nutrients and signaling pathways regulate cell growth and survival, Dr. Hoxhaj’s work is at the forefront of uncovering metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer cells that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention. Her research integrates biochemistry, molecular biology and metabolomics to understand how metabolic processes contribute to disease progression, particularly in cancers.

Dr. Hoxhaj received the 2025 Mary Beth Maddox Award and Lectureship for her work in cancer metabolism. Her innovative approach is helping to lay the groundwork for new strategies in cancer treatment, advancing both fundamental science and translational medicine.

TAMEST connected with Dr. Hoxhaj to learn more about her groundbreaking cancer research, receiving the Mary Beth Maddox Award and Lectureship and more.

Your research focuses on cancer metabolism – can you share how your work is helping us better understand or treat cancer at the molecular level?

At its core, we think of a cell’s metabolism as its engine, converting nutrients into energy and building blocks. Healthy cells run this engine efficiently, but in cancer, oncogenic programs hijack and rewire it to operate in constant overdrive, fueling uncontrolled growth.

This altered metabolism is a hallmark of cancer, and my lab is dedicated to uncovering the molecular principles behind this process. Our work has already revealed key metabolic pathways and fuel preferences of cancer cells. For example, we recently discovered that cancer cells rely heavily on nucleotides for their growth, not only producing them de novo but also recycling them from dietary sources.

This is exciting because it uncovers a new metabolic vulnerability that could be therapeutically targeted and also suggests that dietary interventions might play a role in cancer management. These insights help lay the foundation for more precise and effective treatment strategies, bridging fundamental discoveries with translational opportunities.

How did your background in biochemistry and molecular biology lead you to focus on the metabolic needs of proliferating cells and tumors?

My Ph.D. training in biochemistry and cell signaling gave me a deep appreciation for the regulatory mechanisms that control enzyme activity and pathway function. I built on this foundation during my postdoctoral work, where I studied how cells sense nutrient availability and regulate their metabolism in response.

I was naturally drawn to metabolism because it represents the ultimate puzzle, an opportunity to apply biochemistry at its deepest level and truly dissect the molecular logic of how a cell works.

Our lab’s interests extend to uncovering new layers of metabolic regulation in physiology and understanding how these systems are transformed into disease, such as cancer, where the normal metabolic rulebook is rewritten.

You are the recipient of the 2025 Mary Beth Maddox Award and Lectureship, which recognizes outstanding women scientists in Texas doing transformational cancer research. What does this recognition mean to you personally and professionally?

I am truly honored and grateful to TAMEST for the 2025 Mary Beth Maddox Award and Lectureship.

Professionally, this recognition is a shared honor. It reflects not just my own efforts but also the dedication and creativity of our postdocs, students, technicians and collaborators who make these discoveries possible. It’s a motivation to keep pushing the boundaries of cancer research.

Personally, this award is especially meaningful because it celebrates women in science. Across Texas and beyond, many brilliant women are leading transformational discoveries that are shaping the future of cancer research. I hope this recognition helps inspire and encourage more women to pursue and remain in science, knowing that their contributions matter.

How do you see awards like this influencing greater equity and representation in scientific leadership?

Awards like this play a vital role in advancing equity and representation of women in science. Visibility matters – you can’t be what you can’t see. Recognitions like this expand the picture of what excellence and scientific leadership look like.

They also help counter systemic biases and open doors to leadership opportunities, cultivating a more inclusive, equitable and innovative scientific community for everyone.

What have you gotten out of the lectureship component of the award and getting to network at the top cancer research centers across the state?

The four lectureships across the state are a unique aspect of this award. It is a great opportunity not only to share our lab’s latest work but also to learn about the incredible science happening at other top institutions in Texas. I still have two visits scheduled for this fall, and I am excited for the new connections and the potential collaborations that might emerge.

As a rising leader in biomedical science, who have been the most influential mentors or collaborators in your career, and how have they shaped your path?

I have been incredibly fortunate to have supportive mentors and collaborators at every stage of my career. My Ph.D. advisor, Carol MacKintosh at the University of Dundee, was a truly supportive mentor who gave me the space to grow, which built my confidence as a scientist.

My postdoctoral advisor, Brendan Manning, is among the most rigorous scientists I know. He instilled in me the principle that it is more important to be right than to be first.

At UT Southwestern, I have been lucky to have TAMEST Members Ralph DeBerardinis and Sean Morrison as both mentors and collaborators. One of the most impactful lessons I’ve learned from Sean comes from his simple yet profound question: “How is your research changing the way we think about a biological process?” This question pushes me to elevate our molecular findings toward broader principles and to pursue bolder and bigger questions. Equally, Ralph has been a formative force in how I approach metabolism with clinical relevance. Beyond the science, Ralph’s mentorship and guidance have sharpened my own compass for choosing problems that matter.

In my lab, I strive to integrate these lessons, combining rigor with bold, big questions, in a supportive and positive environment.

What are the next big questions your lab is working on, and how do you hope your research will impact patient care or therapeutic strategies?

Research in our lab is guided by three central questions that address fundamental aspects of cancer metabolism:

1. How do cells integrate oncogenic and nutrient signals to regulate metabolic activities across different compartments?

2. How do cells sense metabolite abundance to maintain homeostasis, and how does this sensing become dysregulated in cancer?

3. How does diet influence tumor growth and metastasis?

By addressing these questions, we aim to create a blueprint of tumor metabolism and translate these insights into novel therapeutic strategies and more effective interventions for patients.

Beyond the lab, how do you hope to contribute to shaping the future of biomedical science and mentoring the next generation of researchers?

As a Principal Investigator, mentoring the next generation of scientists is one of my greatest priorities. I strive to build a lab culture driven by curiosity, rigor, integrity and collaboration, where everyone feels supported and valued.

Beyond my own lab, I am passionate about supporting women and individuals from underrepresented groups in science. I hope that my journey sparks curiosity and builds confidence, inspiring others to persist through challenges and thrive in their scientific paths. Ultimately, I aim to help foster a scientific community that celebrates diverse perspectives and empowers everyone to succeed and thrive.

Why do you live and work in Texas?

I was initially drawn to Texas for its exceptional scientific opportunities and my experience here has only solidified my decision to build my career in this state. The commitment of Texas to cancer research through the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) is admirable and has attracted many outstanding researchers.

Texas is also home to world-class institutions like UT Southwestern, which offer a uniquely collaborative culture with cutting-edge resources and inspiring colleagues. On a personal level, I value the strong sense of community here, both within the institution and across the state. And I’ll admit, I also enjoy the warm weather.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I am deeply grateful to TAMEST for this recognition. I am excited about the opportunities this award will bring, especially for the collaborative opportunities. I truly believe that we cannot tackle complex challenges like cancer alone; breakthroughs happen when we work together.