Lipid peroxidation has been linked to a broad spectrum of (patho)physiological conditions. Notably, in recent years, a newly recognized form of cell death called ferroptosis has emerged, initiated by the iron-dependent peroxidation of lipids. Sensitivity to ferroptosis is influenced by the functioning of antioxidant systems responsible for repairing oxidized phospholipids and by metabolic pathways regulating the availability of susceptible lipid peroxidation substrates. Among these systems, non-enzymatic antioxidants such as vitamin E, recognized for their efficacy in inhibiting lipid peroxidation, significantly contribute to subverting ferroptosis, although their role is often overlooked. Recent studies investigating the determinants of ferroptosis sensitivity have provided deeper insights into alternative metabolic pathways capable of suppressing lipid peroxidation, highlighting the significance of understanding these mechanisms. Such exploration not only enhances our comprehension of disease conditions involving ferroptosis but also presents opportunities to identify and sensitize cells to ferroptosis, particularly within the realm of cancer treatment. This investigation into antioxidant repair mechanisms has the potential to revolutionize our approach to understanding and manipulating ferroptosis, offering novel strategies for therapeutic intervention in various disease contexts.

Bio:

I finished my doctoral studies at the University of Sao Paulo in 2011 where I acquired a PhD in Biochemistry under the supervision of Prof. Paolo Di Mascio. It was there that I interested myself in the biochemistry of lipid peroxidation while being increasingly captivated by their impact on biological systems. In 2012, joined the group of Dr. Marcus Conrad (Helmholtz Zentrum München) as a Humbold fellow where I stayed until 2017. There, I exploited the power of CRISPR technology and pharmacological screens as our primary methodological tools to understand this pathway. Resulting in a number of important studies published in journals such as Nature, Cell, Nature Cell Biol, and Nat Chem Biol. Our contributions to this field have not gone unnoticed, and we have been awarded the status of "Highly Cited Researcher" by Clarivate in 2021, 2022, and 2023. In January 2018, I was awarded an independent junior group leader position at the Rudolf Virchow Zentrum (a center founded as one of 3 pilot DFG research centers now part of the University of Würzburg), and in October 2022, I was promoted to the rank of Full Professor at the same institution. In 2021, I played a pivotal role in the conceptualization and implementation of a highly successful priority program funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, SPP2306). This initiative is the first program in Europe to assemble a structured interest group committed to advancing our understanding of processes regulating lipid peroxidation with the ultimate goal of establishing ferroptosis-based strategies toward clinical application. Very recently, our group has been awarded an ERC Consolidator project to continue our studies on the impact of novel processes regulating lipid peroxidation.