We are a multi-national team dedicated to the understanding and treatment of obesity and obesity-related diseases. Our laboratory is located within the Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. The primary aim of the laboratory is to delineate the molecular mechanisms of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress originated pathologies in obesity. The two main focus areas are insulin and leptin receptor signaling and their crosstalk with the unfolded protein response pathway. Dr. Ozcan's group employs a multi-disciplinary approach that draws from mouse genetics, endoplasmic reticulum physiology & pathophysiology, biochemistry, chemical biology and proteomics to identify key metabolic pathways that determine the cell’s response to physiologic and pathophysiologic ER stress. The ultimate goal of this integrated approach is to unravel the potential therapeutic targets in the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway in order to manipulate cellular energy metabolism and find a cure for obesity and its related diseases.
