My laboratory studies mammalian metabolism, body weight regulation and the physiological dysregulation that occurs in diseases such as obesity, diabetes, anorexia and cachexia. We perform experiments in both humans and rodents to better understand the complex mechanisms regulating macronutrient metabolism, body composition, and energy expenditure. A unique aspect of the laboratory involves development of mathematical models to quantitatively describe, explain, integrate, and predict our experimental results. We have developed several mathematical models, ranging from a single equation that describes the proportion of body weight change resulting from the gain or loss of body fat, to a realistic computational model representing the dynamics of whole body macronutrient metabolism, body composition change, and the participating metabolic fluxes.
