The Rathmell lab aims to identify how metabolic pathways and nutrient microenvironments regulate lymphocyte metabolism, differentiation, and function. The activation of T lymphocytes remodels cell metabolism to support cell growth, proliferation, and signaling essential for effector differentiation and function. The field of immunometabolism explores mechanisms of this metabolic reprogramming and how metabolic pathways influence immune cell fate and function. The Rathmell lab uses genetic and metabolic techniques to discover mechanisms how (1) obesity affects cancer immunotherapy and (2) inflammatory microenvironments shape immune cell metabolism.
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Postdoc - Cancer biology & metabolism
2003
University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
Postdoc - Cancer biology & metabolism
1999
Stanford University
Stanford, CA
PhD - Immunology
1996
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA
B.S. - Biology
1991
Glutamine metabolism as a rheostat of CD4+ T cell pathogenic function in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.
Glutamine metabolism as a rheostat of CD4+ T cell pathogenic function in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Cell Metab. 2026 Sep 18.
PMID: 42759512
Development and application of nbLIBRA-seq for high-throughput discovery of antigen-specific nanobodies.
Development and application of nbLIBRA-seq for high-throughput discovery of antigen-specific nanobodies. Cell Rep Methods. 2026 Sep 17; 101605.
PMID: 42753740
SGLT2 Inhibitor Empagliflozin Reduces Circulating Monocyte-Platelet Aggregates: A Pilot Study.
SGLT2 Inhibitor Empagliflozin Reduces Circulating Monocyte-Platelet Aggregates: A Pilot Study. Circulation. 2026 Sep 15; 154(11):1032-1035.
PMID: 42735222
Glutamine Metabolism Supports a cell Mass and Glucagon Secretion.
Glutamine Metabolism Supports a cell Mass and Glucagon Secretion. bioRxiv. 2026 Jul 13.
PMID: 42523345
Disrupting Treg lineage stability elicits RORgT-mediated plasticity and enhances anti-tumor immunity.
Disrupting Treg lineage stability elicits RORgT-mediated plasticity and enhances anti-tumor immunity. Cell Death Dis. 2026 Jul 06; 17(1).
PMID: 42409766
BCL6 in T cells promotes type 1 diabetes by redirecting fates of insulin-autoreactive B lymphocytes.
BCL6 in T cells promotes type 1 diabetes by redirecting fates of insulin-autoreactive B lymphocytes. iScience. 2026 Jun 19; 29(6):115990.
PMID: 42305589
Loss of Arginase 2 Promotes Lung Metastasis in immune-competent hosts via Nitric Oxide Synthase 2-Dependent Th17 Response.
Loss of Arginase 2 Promotes Lung Metastasis in immune-competent hosts via Nitric Oxide Synthase 2-Dependent Th17 Response. bioRxiv. 2026 Jun 08.
PMID: 42327076
Mitochondrial potential reflects T cell fitness and function during cancer immunotherapy.
Mitochondrial potential reflects T cell fitness and function during cancer immunotherapy. J Immunol. 2026 Jun 07; 215(6).
PMID: 42310166
Critical illness expands a transcriptionally distinct hypometabolic CD8+ T effector program associated with respiratory failure and mortality.
Critical illness expands a transcriptionally distinct hypometabolic CD8+ T effector program associated with respiratory failure and mortality. bioRxiv. 2026 Jun 02.
PMID: 42282739
Dehydration promotes intracellular lipid synthesis and accumulation.
Dehydration promotes intracellular lipid synthesis and accumulation. Nat Commun. 2026 May 25; 17(1).
PMID: 42185304
Fred W. Alt Award for New Discoveries in Immunology
Cancer Research Institute
2025
Honorary Member
American Society for Clinical Investigator
2025
Waddell Walker Hancock Cancer Discovery Scholar
Vanderbilt University
2024
Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher
2022 - 24
Nature Milestones: Highlighted for discoveries in T cell immunometabolism
Nature Publishing
2022
Charles Randal Park Award for Outstanding Contributions to Research
Vanderbilt University
2022
Molecular Pathology & Immunology Graduate Program Faculty Teaching Award
Vanderbilt University
2020 - 2021
William E. Paul Distinguished Innovator Award
Lupus Research Alliance
2019
Fellow
American Association for the Advancement of Science
2019
Scholar
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
2009
Bernard Osher Fellow
American Asthma Foundation
2008
Lisa Stafford Memorial Award for Excellence in Cancer Research
Duke University
2008
Research Scholar
American Cancer Society
2007
Research Scholar
V Foundation for Cancer Research
2004
Research Scholar
Sidney Kimmel Foundation
2004
Postdoctoral Fellowship
Irvington Institute for Immunological Research
1998 - 2001
Graduate Research Fellowship
National Science Foundation
1991 - 1993
Purple and Gold Award to top graduate in Biology
University of Northern Iowa
1991
Most Outstanding New Chemistry and New Biology Student
University of Northern Iowa
1988