Whitney Henry, Ph.D.

Research

My research group will examine how a stress-induced cell-death program called ferroptosis contributes to injury and regeneration in the liver. Tissues rely on tightly regulated forms of cell death to limit damage and maintain integrity. One such program, ferroptosis, relies on chemically reactive iron ions to dismantle cell membranes. But the enzymes and regulatory systems that tissues deploy to avoid activating ferroptosis accidentally remain a mystery. Using advanced techniques in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology, and activity-based protein profiling, we will identify the components that execute and regulate ferroptosis in the liver—a tissue that serves as a hub for handling iron, rendering it vulnerable to this form of cell death. We will also assess how activation or repression of ferroptosis can lead to injury or promote tissue repair. This work could point toward novel therapeutics for disorders in which ferroptosis is implicated, including fatty liver disease, fibrosis, and cancer.