Research
Genetic Control of Chemical Energy in Health and Disease
Energy metabolism comprises decisions by which cells shepherd the energy contained in chemical bonds. Cells transform, store, allocate, and deploy this energy in coordinated ways to influence nearly all mammalian physiology—from body heat produced by thermogenic fat to physical force generated by working muscle. We study how genetic programs instruct cellular decisions in energy metabolism, how organisms coordinate such decisions to balance systemic energy intake with expenditure, and how new therapies might modulate these processes to treat diseases such as obesity, diabetes, sarcopenia, and cachexia. Our syncretic approach unites genetics, biochemistry, and mouse physiology while leveraging individual curiosity and diverse ways of thought.