The focus of my lab is entirely on ovarian cancer: both translational and basic science; with the central theme of understanding and targeting the altered metabolism, including immunometabolism in ovarian cancer. I have a broad background in cancer biology, expertise in signal transduction and proficiency in pre-clinical translation studies. My research has been supported by DOD OCRP Translational Pilot Award, DOD OCRP Pilot awards, DOD OCRP Investigator Initiated Award, foundation grants and more recently by NCI. My interest in ovarian cancer metabolism was initiated and supported by DOD OCRP Translational Pilot Award, whereby we investigated the consequences of adiposity and calories restriction in progression of ovarian cancer. Our findings show the detrimental effects of surplus adipose in aggravating ovarian cancer growth and the ameliorating role of calorie restriction in restricting ovarian cancer growth. During these studies, we were impressed by the beneficial effects of calorie restriction and activation of AMPK. Further investigations led us to the immunomodulatory effects of calorie restriction. Our current funded research seeks to elucidate the specific role of calorie restriction on macrophage phenotype by AMPK leading to metabolic reprogramming that decides the macrophage phenotype in ovarian cancer microenvironment. Our second project defines the metabolic deregulation of myeloid derived suppressor cells occurring by loss of AMPK, that results in aggressive ovarian tumors.