The Lyssiotis lab studies how the nutrients (from food) and metabolic pathways in our bodies influence cancer. We focus on ways that cancer cells are metabolically distinct from healthy cells to design or enhance cancer therapy. Among these, we are studying the way immune cells use nutrients, and how this is impacted by tumors, to find ways to use the immune system to fight cancer.

The Lyssiotis lab uses a multi-disciplinary approach encompassing methods in chemistry and biology to define how metabolism is rewired in cancer. This work spans the areas of cancer metabolism, the tumor microenvironment and immunometabolism using and developing protocols in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics. Ultimately, we aim to transition new information about these processes into targeted therapies for cancer and other diseases. Please explore our website for more information.
Maisel Research Professor of Oncology
Professor of Molecular and Integrative Physiology
Professor of Internal Medicine
Director Academic Program
Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies
Co-Director of Pancreas Cancer Initiatives
Rogel Cancer Center
Costas A. Lyssiotis obtained his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Michigan in 2004. As a NSF Predoctoral fellow, Costas earned a PhD with Peter G Schultz at TSRI in 2010. There, he discovered new drug-like molecules that convert differentiated cells into stem cells for use in degenerative disease. In 2010, Costas joined the laboratory of Lewis C. Cantley at Harvard Medical School as the Amgen fellow of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation and was later awarded a Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Pathway to Leadership Grant.
Dr. Lyssiotis is currently a Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School with appointments in the Departments of Molecular & Integrative Physiology. His lab, located in the Rogel Cancer Center, studies the biochemical pathways and metabolic requirements that enable tumor survival and growth and, in particular, how this information can be used to design targeted therapies. Among his many contributions, Dr. Lyssiotis has defined several new metabolic pathways in pancreatic cancer cells and tumors that are required for growth. For this work, he has been awarded the Dale F. Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists, the Tri-Institutional Breakout Prize for Junior Investigators and the American Gastroenterological Association Augustyn Award in Digestive Cancer. He is also a Sidney Kimmel Foundation Junior Scholar, a Lefkofsky Family Foundation Scholar, a Melanoma Research Alliance Young Investigator and a V Foundation Junior Scholar.
R01 A248160 (04/2020 – 03/2025)
National Cancer Institute
Stromal Metaolism Promotes Therapeutic resistance in Pancreatic Cancer
Role: Principal Investigator
R01 (07/2020 – 06/2025)
National Cancer Institute
Metabolic impact on T-cell mediated cancer immunity and therapy
Role: co-Investigator (with Zou)
R21 (12/2019 – 11/2021)
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Metabolomics and Lipidomics of Noise Induced Hearing Loss
Role: co-Investigator (with Corfas)
R37 CA237421 (12/2019 – 11/2026)
National Cancer Institute
Intratumoral Metabolic Crosstalk Promotes Therapeutic Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer
Role: Principal Investigator
R01 CA244931 (08/2020 – 11/2025)
National Cancer Institute
Targeting Metabolic Stress in Pancreatic Cancer
Role: Principal Investigator
Year & Award | Organization |
2019 Young Investigator Award (Basic Science) | American Gastroenterological Association |
2019 Cancer Research Scholar Award | American Cancer Society |
2017 - 2020 NextGen Young Investigator Award | American Association for Cancer Research |
2017 GI and Liver Physiology New Investigator Award | American Physiological Society |
2016 - 2019 Melanoma Research Alliance Young Investigator | Melanoma Research Alliance |
2016 - 2018 The V Foundation Junior Scholar Award | The V Foundation |
2016 - 2018 Sidney Kimmel Foundation Scholar | Sidney Kimmel Foundation |
2016 - 2018 Lefkofsky Family Foundation Scholar | Lefkofsky Family Foundation |
2016 - 2015 Augustyn Award in Digestive Cancer | American Gastroenterological Association |
2016 - 2017 Clinical Loan Repayment Program Renewal Award | National Institutes of Health |
2015 Tri-Institutional Breakout Prize for Junior Investigators | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center |
2015 - 2017 Dale Frey Award for Breakthrough Scientists | Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation |
2014 - 2016 Clinical Loan Repayment Program Award | National Institutes of Health |
2013 - 2018 Pathway to Leadership Award | Pancreatic Cancer Action Network |
2013 - 2018 Pathway to Leadership Award | Pancreatic Cancer Action Network |
2010 - 2013 Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship | Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation |
2010 Short Term International Postdoctoral Fellowship | Human Frontiers Science Foundation |
2010 Susan G. Komen Postdoctoral Fellowship (declined) | |
2006 - 2009 National Science Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship | National Science Foundation |
Costas A. Lyssiotis, PhD
Rogel Cancer Center
1150 E. Medical Center Drive
Lyssiotis Lab, Room 6130
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
Phone: 734-615-9133
Email: [email protected]