Cells adapt, differentiate, and respond to stress by rewiring both metabolism and protein synthesis. At the Silva Lab, we study how ribosomes actively shape these decisions, acting not only as translators of genetic information but as regulators of cellular state.

Our research focuses on where and how translation occurs inside the cell, and how this spatial organization links ribosome activity to metabolism and cell fate. We are particularly interested in translation at and near mitochondria, where localized protein synthesis directly influences metabolic function, stress responses, and stem cell identity.

Using a combination of ribosome profiling, spatially resolved translation approaches, organoid and stem cell models, and computational analysis, we investigate how ribosome localization and translational stress reprogram cellular behavior. Our work has shown that perturbations in translation can trigger metabolic rewiring and fate transitions, revealing translation as an upstream regulatory layer rather than a passive output.

A central goal of the lab is to expand the translational landscape by identifying non-canonical translation events and small proteins that act as signaling molecules, especially within mitochondria. By integrating ribosome biology, metabolism, and cell fate, we aim to uncover fundamental principles of cellular plasticity relevant to development, regeneration, and disease.