Simon Raffel
Studies metabolic vulnerabilities of leukemia stem cells; senior author on a 2026 Blood paper on IDH3, citrate and mTORC1 in AML stem cell drug resistance
Heidelberg University Hospital · Emmy Noether Group (DFG)
AG Raffel, Heidelberg University Hospital (Heidelberg, Germany) ↗
Simon Raffel runs an independent Emmy Noether research group at Heidelberg University Hospital studying the metabolic biology of leukemia stem cells (LSCs), building on earlier work (recognised with the 2017 Walter Schulz Prize) on amino acid breakdown in leukemia stem cells. He remains affiliated with HI-STEM and the Heidelberg-based LeukoSyStem consortium.
In 2026 his lab identified the TCA-cycle enzyme IDH3 as a selective regulator of AML leukemic stem cell maintenance: knocking down IDH3A raises intracellular citrate, activates AMPK and suppresses mTORC1, and sensitises resistant AML cells to the BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax.
Milestones in the Atlas
| Year | Evidence | Study |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | M | IDH3 regulates citrate homeostasis to control metabolic fitness and venetoclax resistance of AML stem cells DEM2026 Senior author identifying the IDH3A-citrate-AMPK-mTORC1 axis as a route to overcome venetoclax resistance in AML stem cells. |