Background
Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, and various cancers. Current strategies to reduce obesity, including dieting, bariatric surgery or Ozempic, have been hampered by the body’s natural tendency to regain weight. A recent discovery showed weight regain is caused by an ‘obesogenic memory’ imprinted onto adipose (fat) tissue. Specifically, this involved epigenetic modifications in both adipocytes and immune cells within the adipose tissue.
Aim
Our goal is to address the knowledge gaps required to translate this breakthrough into new therapies.
Approach
To achieve this, students will use techniques in the following areas: cell culture, organoid engineering, molecular cell biology, metabolic biochemistry, rodent work [optional] and/or systems biology (single cell / single nuclei RNAseq, Spatial transcriptomics) and modelling.
Project Potential
Experience with drug development and translation; work with human tissues, computational biology and modelling.