Professional Overview
Honors and Awards
- Pioneer Award, National Institutes of Health (2009)
- Member, American Society of Clinical Investigation (2008)
- Culpepper Medical Sciences Scholar, Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships (2004)
- Rita Allen Scholar, Rita Allen Foundation (2003)
Professional Education
| Ph.D.: | University of Pennyslvania, Physiology (1996) |
| M.D.: | University of Pennsylvania, Medicine (1996) |
| B.Sc.: | Johns Hopkins University, Biomedial Engineering (1989) |
Graduate & Fellowship Program Affiliations
Scientific Focus
Current Research Interests
Nuclear receptors are a large family of ligand-dependent transcription factors that regulate various aspects of vertebrate biology, including development, homeostasis and differentiation. A subset of this superfamily, the adopted orphan receptors serve as the bodys lipid sensors and work together to maintain cellular lipid homeostasis. Since intake of excess dietary lipids has been epidemiologically linked to various human diseases (such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and impaired immunity), it is critical to understand the molecular mechanisms by which these receptors regulate the underlying physiologic and pathophysiologic processes. Towards this goal, our laboratory studies the function of two adopted orphan receptors, PPAR gamma and PPAR delta, in macrophages and dendritic cells. We use a combination of techniques and tools, including molecular biology, transgenic and knockout mice, stem cells, genomics, and mouse models of disease, to dissect the receptor signaling pathways that control macrophage and dendritic cell activation.
Publications
- PPAR-delta senses and orchestrates clearance of apoptotic cells to promote tolerance. Nat Med. 2009; (11): 1266-72
- Alternative M2 activation of Kupffer cells by PPARdelta ameliorates obesity-induced insulin resistance. Cell Metab. 2008; (6): 496-507
- Mechanisms of macrophage activation in obesity-induced insulin resistance. Nat Clin Pract Endocrinol Metab. 2008; (11): 619-26
- Macrophage-specific PPARgamma controls alternative activation and improves insulin resistance. Nature. 2007; (7148): 1116-20
- Oxidative metabolism and PGC-1beta attenuate macrophage-mediated inflammation. Cell Metab. 2006; (1): 13-24
- Control of macrophage activation and function by PPARs. Circ Res. 2010; (10): 1559-69
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