Our group focuses on uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms governing complex metabolic diseases and cancer with an emphasis on lifestyle interventions and/or combinatorial drug treatments. We have a long-standing interest in studying pathways involved in nutrient signalling and chronic inflammation in liver disease and cancer. Our primary focus is on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) including non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) as well as subsequent liver cancer. NAFLD has now become the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide and poses a huge unmet clinical need. We strive to unravel the underlying mechanisms that link diet, physical activity, and behavioural changes to metabolic health and cancer progression. These studies are carried out by combining classical biochemical and cellular work with in vivo studies in pre-clinical mouse models and state of the art multiomic approaches with the final goal of translating these findings into clinical applications to benefit patients. With a strong focus on translational research, we aim to bridge the gap between scientific discoveries and practical applications in clinical settings.
Lifestyle Interventions in Metabolic Diseases and Cancer
Head of the research group
Publikationen: Google Scholar
Biosketch
Dr. Suchira Gallage is a biomedical scientist with a strong interest and expertise in nutrient signalling pathways in metabolic diseases (e.g., NAFLD/NASH) and cancer as well as in cellular senescence and aging. His Doctoral and Post-doctoral studies took place at Imperial College London and at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), respectively. His PhD focused on unravelling the role of nutrient signalling pathways in cellular senescence, aging and liver disease. This was further strengthened in his Postdoctoral tenure where he focused on metabolic/lifestyle interventions and/or chronic inflammatory signalling in NASH and Liver Cancer. He is currently heading a Junior Group at the M3 Research Institute in the University of Tübingen.
Interview
Lifestyle Interventions in Metabolic Diseases and Cancer – Interview with Dr. Suchira Gallage
In this interview, Dr. Suchira Gallage, head of the research group, explains how lifestyle interventions and multiomic research are reshaping our understanding of fatty liver disease and its link to cancer. Discover how cutting-edge science could transform clinical care for millions of patients worldwide.
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Team
Co-affiliations
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Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Diet
Exercise
Mimetics
Selected publications
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2024
Ribosomal S6 kinase 1 regulates inflammaging via the senescence secretome
Gallage S, Irvine EE, Barragan Avila JE, Reen V, Pedroni SMA, Duran I, Ranvir V, Khadayate S, Pombo J, Brookes S, Heide D, Dharmalingham G, Choudhury AI, Singh I, Herranz N, Vernia S, Heikenwalder M, Gil J, Withers DJ. Ribosomal S6 kinase 1 regulates inflammaging via the senescence secretome.
Nat Aging. 2024 Nov;4(11):1544-1561. doi: 10.1038/s43587-024-00695-z. Epub 2024 Aug 29. PMID: 39210150; PMCID: PMC11564105.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-024-00695-z -
2024
A 5:2 intermittent fasting regimen ameliorates NASH and fibrosis and blunts HCC development via hepatic PPARα and PCK1
Gallage S, Ali A, Barragan Avila JE, Seymen N, Ramadori P, Joerke V, Zizmare L, Aicher D, Gopalsamy IK, Fong W, Kosla J, Focaccia E, Li X, Yousuf S, Sijmonsma T, Rahbari M, Kommoss KS, Billeter A, Prokosch S, Rothermel U, Mueller F, Hetzer J, Heide D, Schinkel B, Machauer T, Pichler B, Malek NP, Longerich T, Roth S, Rose AJ, Schwenck J, Trautwein C, Karimi MM, Heikenwalder M. A 5:2 intermittent fasting regimen ameliorates NASH and fibrosis and blunts HCC development via hepatic PPARα and PCK1.
Cell Metab. 2024 Jun 4;36(6):1371-1393.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2024.04.015. Epub 2024 May 7. PMID: 38718791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2024.04.015 -
2024
Detection of senescence using machine learning algorithms based on nuclear features.
Duran I, Pombo J, Sun B, Gallage S, Kudo H, McHugh D, Bousset L, Barragan Avila JE, Forlano R, Manousou P, Heikenwalder M, Withers DJ, Vernia S, Goldin RD, Gil J. Detection of senescence using machine learning algorithms based on nuclear features.
Nat Commun. 2024 Feb 3;15(1):1041. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-45421-w. PMID: 38310113; PMCID: PMC10838307.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-45421-w -
2024
Intermittent fasting-the future treatment in NASH patients?
Minciuna I, Gallage S, Heikenwalder M, Zelber-Sagi S, Dufour JF. Intermittent fasting-the future treatment in NASH patients?
Hepatology. 2023 Oct 1;78(4):1290-1305. doi: 10.1097/HEP.0000000000000330. Epub 2023 Apr 17. PMID: 37057877. https://doi.org/10.1097/HEP.0000000000000330 -
2022
A researcher's guide to preclinical mouse NASH models
Gallage S, Avila JEB, Ramadori P, Focaccia E, Rahbari M, Ali A, Malek NP, Anstee QM, Heikenwalder M. A researcher's guide to preclinical mouse NASH models.
Nat Metab. 2022 Dec;4(12):1632-1649. doi: 10.1038/s42255-022-00700-y. Epub 2022 Dec 20. PMID: 36539621.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-022-00700-y -
2022
Spontaneous Cholemia in C57BL/6 Mice Predisposes to Liver Cancer in NASH
Gallage S, Ali A, Barragan Avila JE, Herebian D, Karimi MM, Irvine EE, McHugh D, Schneider AT, Vucur M, Keitel V, Gil J, Withers DJ, Luedde T, Heikenwalder M. Spontaneous Cholemia in C57BL/6 Mice Predisposes to Liver Cancer in NASH.
Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2022;13(3):875-878. doi: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.11.012. Epub 2021 Dec 6. PMID: 34883280; PMCID: PMC8804272. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.11.012 -
2022
Histone H3K27 demethylase KDM6A is an epigenetic gatekeeper of mTORC1 signalling in cancer.
Revia S, Seretny A, Wendler L, Banito A, Eckert C, Breuer K, Mayakonda A, Lutsik P, Evert M, Ribback S, Gallage S, Chikh Bakri I, Breuhahn K, Schirmacher P, Heinrich S, Gaida MM, Heikenwälder M, Calvisi DF, Plass C, Lowe SW, Tschaharganeh DF. Histone H3K27 demethylase KDM6A is an epigenetic gatekeeper of mTORC1 signalling in cancer.
Gut. 2022 Aug;71(8):1613-1628. doi: 10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325405. Epub 2021 Sep 11. PMID: 34509979; PMCID: PMC9279849. https://doi.org/10.1136/gutjnl-2021-325405 -
2022
Platelet GPIbα is a mediator and potential interventional target for NASH and subsequent liver cancer
Malehmir M, Pfister D, Gallage S, Szydlowska M, Inverso D, Kotsiliti E, Leone V, Peiseler M, Surewaard BGJ, Rath D, Ali A, Wolf MJ, Drescher H, Healy ME, Dauch D, Kroy D, Krenkel O, Kohlhepp M, Engleitner T, Olkus A, Sijmonsma T, Volz J, Deppermann C, Stegner D, Helbling P, Nombela-Arrieta C, Rafiei A, Hinterleitner M, Rall M, Baku F, Borst O, Wilson CL, Leslie J, O'Connor T, Weston CJ, Chauhan A, Adams DH, Sheriff L, Teijeiro A, Prinz M, Bogeska R, Anstee N, Bongers MN, Notohamiprodjo M, Geisler T, Withers DJ, Ware J, Mann DA, Augustin HG, Vegiopoulos A, Milsom MD, Rose AJ, Lalor PF, Llovet JM, Pinyol R, Tacke F, Rad R, Matter M, Djouder N, Kubes P, Knolle PA, Unger K, Zender L, Nieswandt B, Gawaz M, Weber A, Heikenwalder M. Platelet GPIbα is a mediator and potential interventional target for NASH and subsequent liver cancer.
Nat Med. 2019 Apr;25(4):641-655. doi: 10.1038/s41591-019-0379-5. Epub 2019 Apr 1. Erratum in: Nat Med. 2022 Mar;28(3):600. doi: 10.1038/s41591-022-01693-7. PMID: 30936549; PMCID: PMC12452109.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-019-0379-5 -
2021
The therapeutic landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma
Gallage S, García-Beccaria M, Szydlowska M, Rahbari M, Mohr R, Tacke F, Heikenwalder M. The therapeutic landscape of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Med. 2021 May 14;2(5):505-552. doi: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.03.002. Epub 2021 Apr 27. PMID: 35590232.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.medj.2021.03.002 -
2019
CD8+ T cells induce cachexia during chronic viral infection.
Baazim H, Schweiger M, Moschinger M, Xu H, Scherer T, Popa A, Gallage S, Ali A, Khamina K, Kosack L, Vilagos B, Smyth M, Lercher A, Friske J, Merkler D, Aderem A, Helbich TH, Heikenwälder M, Lang PA, Zechner R, Bergthaler A. CD8+ T cells induce cachexia during chronic viral infection.
Nat Immunol. 2019 Jun;20(6):701-710. doi: 10.1038/s41590-019-0397-y. Epub 2019 May 20. Erratum in: Nat Immunol. 2025 Nov 20. doi: 10.1038/s41590-025-02369-3. PMID: 31110314; PMCID: PMC6531346.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41590-019-0397-y -
2019
Cardiac glycosides are broad-spectrum senolytics
Guerrero A, Herranz N, Sun B, Wagner V, Gallage S, Guiho R, Wolter K, Pombo J, Irvine EE, Innes AJ, Birch J, Glegola J, Manshaei S, Heide D, Dharmalingam G, Harbig J, Olona A, Behmoaras J, Dauch D, Uren AG, Zender L, Vernia S, Martínez-Barbera JP, Heikenwalder M, Withers DJ, Gil J. . Cardiac glycosides are broad-spectrum senolytics.
Nat Metab. 2019 Nov;1(11):1074-1088. doi: 10.1038/s42255-019-0122-z. Epub 2019 Oct 21. PMID: 31799499; PMCID: PMC6887543. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42255-019-0122-z -
2018
PTBP1-Mediated Alternative Splicing Regulates the Inflammatory Secretome and the Pro-tumorigenic Effects of Senescent Cells
Georgilis A, Klotz S, Hanley CJ, Herranz N, Weirich B, Morancho B, Leote AC, D'Artista L, Gallage S, Seehawer M, Carroll T, Dharmalingam G, Wee KB, Mellone M, Pombo J, Heide D, Guccione E, Arribas J, Barbosa-Morais NL, Heikenwalder M, Thomas GJ, Zender L, Gil J. PTBP1-Mediated Alternative Splicing Regulates the Inflammatory Secretome and the Pro-tumorigenic Effects of Senescent Cells.
Cancer Cell. 2018 Jul 9;34(1):85-102.e9. doi: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.06.007. PMID: 29990503; PMCID: PMC6048363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2018.06.007 -
2015
mTOR regulates MAPKAPK2 translation to control the senescence-associated secretory phenotype
Herranz N, Gallage S, Mellone M, Wuestefeld T, Klotz S, Hanley CJ, Raguz S, Acosta JC, Innes AJ, Banito A, Georgilis A, Montoya A, Wolter K, Dharmalingam G, Faull P, Carroll T, Martínez-Barbera JP, Cutillas P, Reisinger F, Heikenwalder M, Miller RA, Withers D, Zender L, Thomas GJ, Gil J. mTOR regulates MAPKAPK2 translation to control the senescence-associated secretory phenotype.
Nat Cell Biol. 2015 Sep;17(9):1205-17. doi: 10.1038/ncb3225. Epub 2015 Aug 17. Erratum in: Nat Cell Biol. 2015 Oct;17(10):1370. doi: 10.1038/ncb3243. Erratum in: Nat Cell Biol. 2024 Jun;26(6):1019. doi: 10.1038/s41556-024-01443-6. PMID: 26280535; PMCID: PMC4589897. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb3225