Simon Schwörer, PhD – Principal Investigator
Simon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, at the University of Chicago and a UChicago Comprehensive Cancer Center and Center for Cancer Metabolomics member.
Simon earned his BS and MS in Molecular Medicine from Ulm University and a PhD in Molecular Biomedicine from Friedrich Schiller University, both in Germany. In his graduate work with Lenhard Rudolph at the Leibniz Institute on Aging, Simon investigated epigenetic regulators of stem cell fate decisions in aging. He completed his postdoctoral training with Craig Thompson at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, where he studied the metabolic control of fibroblast function in cancer and fibrosis. He held postdoctoral fellowships from the Human Frontier Science Program Organization and the European Molecular Biology Organization and was awarded a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award from the National Cancer Institute.
In his free time, Simon likes to run along Lake Michigan, cook and try out new recipes, explore the Chicago restaurant scene, follow his favorite soccer team, SC Freiburg, and hang out with his cat, Laury.
Favorite metabolite: Proline
Marta Storl-Desmond, BS – PhD Student
Marta is a second-year graduate student in the Committee on Cancer Biology at UChicago and a member of the NCI T32 Multi-disciplinary Training program in Cancer Research. She earned a BS in Chemical Biology from Case Western Reserve University and worked as a Research Technician in Quintin Pan’s lab on novel anti-cancer target discovery.
Marta joined the Schwörer Lab in August 2023 after rotating in the Lab in the spring quarter. Her project focuses on the metabolic control of CAF plasticity in tumors. Marta is interested in mitochondrial biology and understanding drug mechanisms.
In her free time, Marta enjoys aerial arts (think circus), hiking, scuba diving, snowboarding, cooking, and eating good food.
Favorite metabolite: Acetyl-CoA
Chufan Cai, BS – PhD Student (Co-mentored with Jing Chen)
Chufan is a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the Committee on Cancer Biology at UChicago. She earned her BS in Biology from Purdue University and China Agricultural University (a joint program between the two universities).
Chufan works on a collaborative project between the Chen and the Schwörer Labs, investigating the role of blood components in fibroblast plasticity. In addition, Chufan works on another project exploring cancer oncogene-dependent metabolic alterations in the Chen Lab.
In her free time, Chufan likes to explore new restaurants in the city and train her cat, Dundun.
Favorite metabolite: ATP
Julien Guillard, PhD – Postdoctoral Scholar
Julien earned an MS in Biology and Health and a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Reims/France. After studying CAFs in his master’s thesis, in his graduate work co-mentored by Gerard Thiefin, Ganesh Sockalingum, and Roselyne Garnotel, Julien developed PhotoFib, a vibrational spectroscopy approach to analyze liver cirrhosis and discover new biomarkers for disease progression.
Julien joined the Schwörer Lab in June 2023, focusing on the metabolic control of ECM synthesis in tumors. He is passionate about science communication, coordinating events like “Pint of Science.”
Outside the lab, Julien tries to catch all the new movies in the theatre, likes to compete with his PI in movie soundtrack quizzes, and enjoys traveling across the country to visit all 50 states before finishing his Postdoc.
Favorite metabolite: Hydroxyproline (just like proline, but fancier)
Kevin Muñoz Forti, PhD – Postdoctoral Scholar
Kevin earned a BS in Biomedicine from the University of Puerto Rico, an MS in Biotechnology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Missouri. In his graduate work with Gary Weisman, he studied purinergic receptor signaling in oral cancer and Sjögren’s syndrome. Kevin held an NIH RISE R25 Fellowship, an NIH T32 Predoctoral Fellowship, and a Life Sciences Graduate Research Fellowship.
Kevin is an IRACDA fellow at UChicago, which will allow him to gain experience in science education. Kevin joined the Schwörer Lab in August 2023 and leads the lab’s efforts toward investigating CAF metabolism in vivo.
Kevin likes to bake in his free time while exploring the concept of “free time.”
Favorite metabolite: 4-Hydroxyamphetamine
Shan Cao – Undergraduate Student (’24)
Shan is a fourth-year student at Loyola University majoring in Biochemistry. She received the Rambler Award for Leadership, Charles Lack, and Joseph J. Wolff Endowed Scholarships. At Loyola, Shan is the Social media manager of Aspiring Women in Health. Shan joined the lab in May 2023 to foster her laboratory skills. In the lab, Shan gained expertise in 3D culture models and is testing the role of various metabolic pathways in organoid/fibroblast co-cultures.
In her free time, Shan likes to paint, bike along Lake Michigan, and explore Chicago’s authentic Spicy Chinese cuisine – Szechuan style!
Favorite metabolite: Glutamine
Glitches in the Matrix
Laury
Originally from New York City, Laury followed Simon to Chicago to help him start the Lab. She makes sure the Lab’s mouse colony is kept in check.
In her free time, Laury likes to sleep, watch birds and insects, and snuggle with her humans.
Favorite metabolite: Leucine (she likes protein, and leucine is the most abundant amino acid in protein)
DunDun
DunDun participates in all experiments in the lab by leaving her long hair everywhere.
In her free time, DunDun observes her human closely, waiting for the right moment to headbutt her. She’s very vocal, ensuring people remember to pet her.
Favorite metabolite: ATP! (Same as her human)
Mouse
Mouse is the Lab’s master of centrifugation. He sleeps on top of centrifuges, ensuring they are at the right temperature.
In his free time, Mouse enjoys sleeping in flower pots…filled with dirt…on top of the plants. When awake, he usually demands cuddles from his human.
Favorite metabolite: Omega-3 fatty acid metabolite derivatives because Mouse is a massive fan of fish.
Rodrigo José Garcia
Rodrigo spends most of his time in Puerto Rico. He comes to Chicago for the summer quarter to keep the lab’s summer undergrad students in line.
In his free time, Rodrigo enjoys sunbathing and barking at his shadow.
Favorite metabolite: All metabolites of peanut butter catabolism
Alumni
Francesco Cimino, BS – Research Technician (at MSKCC)
Current position: M.D./Ph.D. student at SUNY Downstate, NY
Daiqing Chen, BS, MS – Research Technician
Current position: Ph.D. student in Biological Sciences, University of Illinois, IL
Alex Turk – Undergraduate Student (’26)
Current position: Undergraduate Student in Biochemistry, University of Chicago
Alexa Jang – Undergraduate Student (’26)
Current position: Undergraduate Student in Biological Sciences, University of Chicago