Research Information
Research Interests
My research is focused on the interrelationship between lipid metabolism and the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. We have three active research programs, and we are always looking for highly motivated young scientists to participate in our multidisciplinary training program.
Research Projects
Project 1) Mechanism Regulating Trans-Intestinal Cholesterol Excretion (TICE). The process of reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) has long been thought require intact biliary secretion. However, our work has revealed a novel RCT pathway that is independent of biliary secretion. We are currently probing mechanisms driving this novel pathway, and testing novel therapeutics targeting this pathway for protection against atherosclerosis.
Project 2) Metaorganismal Endocrinology: Gut Microbe-Derived Hormones in Driving Cardiometabolic Disease. Microbes resident in the human intestine represent a key factor contributing to cardiometabolic disease. Here we are studying a metaorganismal endocrine axis by which gut microbial metabolism of nutrients common in high fat diets (phosphatidylcholine, choline, and L-carnitine) results in the production of novel microbe-derived hormones that impact obesity and insulin sensitivity in the host.
Project 3) Alpha Beta Hydrolase Domain (ABHD) Proteins in Metabolic Disease. We are functionally annotating a family of proteins known as alpha/beta hydrolase domain (ABHD) containing proteins. These proteins are highly conserved lipid metabolizing enzymes, and mutations in several of these proteins have been implicated in inherited inborn errors in lipid metabolism. These studies are uncovering novel roles for ABHD enzymes in the development of obesity, hepatic steatosis, type II diabetes, and cancer.