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Molecular studies of food intake and body weight

My laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms that regulate food intake and body weight. Genetic studies in mice led to the identification of leptin, a hormone made by fat tissue, that plays a key role in regulating weight. With the identification of leptin and its receptors, two of the molecular components of a system that maintains constant weight have been identified. Studies aim to explore the mechanisms by which leptin controls feeding behavior, body weight and glucose metabolism, as well as to identify other key regulators.