Research
Doctoral students conduct their thesis research under the direction of researchers drawn from throughout Columbia University Irving Medical Center who represent disciplines such as pediatrics, microbiology, cellular and molecular biology, toxicology, surgery, epidemiology, and others, as they relate to nutrition. The extensive research and training collaborations among these groups offer outstanding opportunities for cooperative and interdisciplinary training of the next generation of nutrition researchers.
Faculty
- Domenico Accili, MD
- Richard Baer, PhD
- Jonathan Barasch, MD, PhD
- Robert Bauer, PhD
- William Blaner, PhD
- Elizabeth M. Bradshaw, PhD
- Wellington Cardoso, MD, PhD
- Chuchun Liz Chang, PhD
- Chia-Wei Cheng, PhD
- Angela Christiano, PhD
- Wendy Chung, MD, PhD
- Jeanine D'Armiento, MD, PhD
- Sabrina Diano, PhD
- Claudia A. Doege, MD
- Dietrich Egli, PhD
- Anthony Ferrante, MD, PhD
- Dympna Gallagher, EdD
- Mary Gamble, PhD
- Henry Ginsberg, MD
- Rebecca Haeusler, PhD
- Yiping Han, PhD
- Ivaylo Ivanov, PhD
- Gerard Karsenty, MD, PhD
- Stavroula Kousteni, PhD
- Rudolph Leibel, MD
- Cathy Mendelsohn, PhD
- Edward Owusu-Ansah, PhD
- Lale Ozcan, PhD
- Utpal Pajvani, MD, PhD
- Anna Penn, MD
- Martin Picard, PhD
- Liza Pon, PhD
- Muredoch Reilly, MBBCH, MSCE
- Daniel Salzman, MD, PhD
- Juan-Manuel Schvartzman, MD, PhD
- Robert Schwabe, MD
- Lawrence Shapiro, PhD
- Brent R. Stockwell, PhD
- Megan Sykes, MD
- Ira Tabas, PhD
- Alan Tall, MD
- Stephen Tsang, MD, PhD
- Timothy Wang, MD
- Sharon Wardlaw, MD
- Lori Zeltser, PhD
- Hanrui Zhang, PhD
- Charles Zuker, PhD
IHN Research Clusters
Bone Metabolism
The process in which tissue is continuously renewed to maintain the biochemical and biomechanical integrity to support bone function, health, mass, and strength.
- Faculty: Karsenty, Kousteni
Cancer
Basic science and clinical approaches to cancer focus on the molecular and cellular events that lead to and promote its development. Research focuses on applying that knowledge to the design of cancer therapies and prevention strategies that reduce its incidence and progression and improve the quality of the lives of those affected by cancer.
- Faculty: Baer, Blaner, Cheng, Mendelsohn, Reilly, Schwabe, Schvartzman, Tsang, Wang
Diabetes, Obesity, and Body Composition
Researchers are exploring the biological, environmental, and social factors behind diabetes, metabolic disorders, and obesity.
- Faculty: Accilli, Chung, Ferrante, Gallagher, Egli, Haeusler, Leibel, Pajvani, Shapiro, Sykes, Wardlaw, Zeltser
Immunology and Microbiome
Emphasis is on the research and study of human microbiome, infectious microbes, and the response of hosts to such pathogens to understand the molecular basis of infectious disease.
- Faculty: Han, Ivanov, Sykes, Tall
Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Cardiovascular Disease
Special emphasis is on diet-gene interactions, risk prediction biomarkers, and therapeutic markers to treat and understand cardiovascular diseases.
- Faculty: Bauer, Blaner, Bradshaw, Chang, D'Armiento, Ginsberg, Haeusler, Stockwell, Tabas, Tall
Micronutrients & Development
Research is looking at how specific nutrients, diets, and hormones impact the body and cognitive brain function.
- Faculty: Blaner, Barasch, Cardoso, Christiano, Gamble, Mendelsohn, Penn, Tsang, Zeltser, Zuker
Mitochondrial Metabolism
Research takes a multifaceted approach to cell metabolic products, proteins, and processes and their positive and negative impact in diseases and overall human health.
- Faculty: Diano, Owusu-Ansah, Pon, Tabas
Neurobiology
Research interests include the neural systems that detect and process homeostatic, gut-derived, sensory and emotional influences on feeding behavior during development and in adulthood
- Faculty: Bradshaw, Diano, Doege, Salzman, Zeltser, Zuker
Precision Medicine
The study of and clinical approach to genes, environment, and lifestyle of individual patients allows our doctors and researchers to devise targeted treatments and preventative measures to fight diseases. Columbia University brings together a unique pipeline of fundamental and applied science, translational medicine, and clinical practice.
- Faculty: Christiano, Chung, Ginsberg, Reilly, Tabas
Stem Cell Biology
Research interests include understanding the unique metabolic and cell division properties of embryonic and adult stem cells, including iPS.
- Faculty: Accili, Doege, Egli, Ginsberg, Leibel, Tsang