Areas of Research

IHN Researcher

Bone Metabolism

  • Gerard Karsenty, MD, PhD
    • The Karsenty laboratory uses genetics, cellular, molecular and clinical physiological approaches to pursue several fundamental questions of bone biology. 
  • Stavroula Kousteni, PhD
    • The purpose of the research in the Kousteni laboratory is to understand the influence of the skeleton on various physiological processes and in disease. 

Cancer

  • Richard Baer, PhD
    • The Baer lab studies the pathogenesis of hereditary breast cancer, specifically pathogenesis of hereditary breast cancer
  • William Blaner, PhD
    • The central focus of the Blaner Laboratory has been on retinoid metabolism and actions in maintaining normal health.
  • Cathy Mendelsohn, PhD
    • The Mendelsohn lab focuses on identification and characterization of  progenitors that are important for development and regeneration of the urothelium, a water-proof barrier that lines the urinary outflow tract.
  • Muredach Reilly, MD, CM, FRCPC
    • The Reilly Group at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center is dedicated to translational and genomic studies of human cardiometabolic disorders.
  • Robert Schwabe, MD
    • The Schwabe lab research seeks to elucidate mechanisms by which fibrosis and cancer develop in the chronically injured liver using mouse models, patient samples as well as novel Systems Biology approaches
  • Stephen Tsang, MD, PhD
    • Dr. Tsang's genome engineering laboratory is engaged in tackling neurodegenerative disorders by pursuing investigations in three areas, two of which include patient-specific mouse models: probing the role of phosphodiesterase (PDE) signaling in neurodegeneration, developing stem cell-based therapies for photoreceptor degeneration, and correlating the genotypes of various human retinal degenerations with the phenotypes revealed in live metabolic imaging (autofluorescence).
  • Timothy Wang, MD
    • Dr. Wang's lab has worked for many years on the role of inflammation in modulating stem cells and promoting gastrointestinal neoplasia using mouse models.

Diabetes, Obesity, and Body Composition

  • Domenico Accili, MD
    • Dr. Accili's research has delved into the pathogenesis of diabetes, the integrated physiology of insulin action and mechanisms of pancreatic beta dysfunction. 
  • Wendy Chung, MD, PhD
    • The Chung lab contributions have been in the discovery of new genes for human diseases and characterization of the mutation spectrum and molecular mechanism of disease, clinical characterization of the disorders associated with these gene mutations, and integration of these discoveries into clinical practice through the development and implementation of clinical genetic testing in medical care.
  • Sabrina Diano, PhD
    • Dr. Diano’s research focuses on intracellular nutrient sensing mechanisms in brain cells regulating energy and glucose metabolism, and how their derangement promotes development of metabolic disorders.
  • Dietrich Egli, PhD
    • The Egli lab works to find the mechanisms that result in abnormal and failed human development in order to mprove the efficiency of fertility treatments, to reduce the burden of disease-causing genetic change, and increase the chances of parents to have a healthy child.
  • Anthony Ferrante, MD, PhD
    • Work in Dr. Ferrante's laboratory currently focuses on identifying the ontogeny of sub-populations of macrophages and their specific roles.
  • Rebecca Haeusler, PhD
    • The goals of Dr. Haeusler's research are to understand the development of proatherogenic metabolic abnormalities in insulin resistant individuals, and to identify new therapeutic targets for improving these abnormalities. 
  • Blandine Laferrere, MD, PhD
    • Dr. Laferrère’s laboratory studies mechanisms and biomarkers linking obesity and type 2 diabetes and the effect of various weight loss interventions, including tome restricted eating, on glucose and lipid metabolism and body composition in humans.
  • Rudolph Leibel, MD
    • Dr. Leibel's research focuses on the genetics of obesity and noninsulin-dependent diabetes.
  • Utpal Pajvani, MD, PhD
    • From bench to bedside and back again, Dr. Pajvani's lab uses basic and translational research methods to uncouple obesity from its metabolic complications via the Notch signaling pathway.
  • Lawrence Shapiro, PhD
    • Research in the Shaprio lab focuses mainly on the biology of cell adhesion, particularly as it relates to establishing synaptic connections between neurons, using the retina as the primary model system.
  • Alpana Shukla, MD
    • Dr. Shukla's research is focused on novel interventions for management of obesity and type 2 diabetes including behavior modification, pharmacotherapy and endoscopic/ bariatric procedures with a key focus on the physiological effects and therapeutic implications of nutrient sequence/food order.
  • Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD
    • Dr. St-Onge studies the impact of lifestyle, specifically sleep and diet, on cardio-metabolic risk factors, conducts innovative, cutting-edge clinical research combining her expertise on sleep, nutrition, and energy balance regulation to address questions relating to the role of circadian rhythms, including sleep duration and timing as well as meal timing and eating patterns, on cardio-metabolic risk.
  • Megan Sykes, MD
    • Major areas of focus in the Sykes lab include hematopoietic cell transplantation, organ allograft tolerance induction, xenotransplantation tolerance and Type 1 diabetes.
  • Vidhu Thaker, MD
    • Dr. Thaker's work is focused on understanding the molecular underpinnings of severe early childhood obesity, and its influence on the clinical manifestations.
  • Sharon Wardlaw, MD
    • Dr. Wardlaw has done clinical neuroendocrine research for over 25 years ranging from studies of normal pituitary physiology to the diagnosis and treatment of pituitary diseases, including prolactinomas, acromegaly, Cushing's disease and lymphocytic hypophysitis. 
  • Jennifer Woo Baidal, MD
    • The Woo Baidal lab translates clinical and epidemiologic findings into early life interventions to eliminate racial/ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in childhood obesity and its co-morbidities, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
  • Lori Zeltser, PhD
    • Research in the Zeltser laboratory explores how developmental influences exert lasting impacts on body weight regulation.

Dietary Intake, Sleep, and Other Lifestyle Factors

  • Brooke Aggarwal, EdD
    • The Aggarwal lab conducts clinical research studies aimed at understanding how lack of sleep increases cardiac risk among women. 
  • R. Colin Carter, MD
    • Dr. Carter’s research interests focus on toxicology, specifically interactions between nutrition and alcohol-related teratology during pregnancy. 
  • Daniela Elazari, RD
    • Ms. Elazari's research through the Office of Work Life includes the development, implementation, and evaluation of nutrition, weight management, and other workplace wellness programs and initiatives for Columbia University faculty and staff.
  • John Glendinning, PhD
    • Dr. Glendinning investigates how the brain uses input from sensory systems in the mouth and gut to determine (a) the chemical composition of foods, (b) whether we like or dislike a particular food, and (c) which metabolic responses should be activated (e.g., insulin release) so as to facilitate post-absorptive processing of the food. 
  • Kim Hekimian, PhD
    • Dr. Hekimian's research focuses on determinants of infant feeding practices, breastfeeding promotion, and nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. 
  • Madra Moneek, PhD
    • Dr. Madra's research interests include impacts of postnatal stressors on feeding behaviors during adolescence, particularly related to anorexia nervosa, and the effects of early life stress on gut function, enteric nervous system development and gut brain interactions.
  • Manuela Orjuela, MD
    • Dr. Orjuela-Grimm studies the association between dietary intake and neurocognition and behavior in Latina immigrants.
  • Alpana Shukla, MD
    • Dr. Shukla's research is focused on novel interventions for management of obesity and type 2 diabetes including behavior modification, pharmacotherapy and endoscopic/ bariatric procedures with a key focus on the physiological effects and therapeutic implications of nutrient sequence/food order.
  • Marie-Pierre St-Onge, PhD
    • Dr. St-Onge studies the impact of lifestyle, specifically sleep and diet, on cardio-metabolic risk factors, conducts innovative, cutting-edge clinical research combining her expertise on sleep, nutrition, and energy balance regulation to address questions relating to the role of circadian rhythms, including sleep duration and timing as well as meal timing and eating patterns, on cardio-metabolic risk.

Immunology and Microbiome

  • Angela Christiano, PhD
    • The major focus of Christiano Lab research is the study of inherited skin and hair disorders in humans and mice, through a classical genetic approach including identification and phenotyping of disease families, genetic linkage, gene discovery and mutation analysis, and functional studies relating these findings to basic questions in epidermal biology.
  • Anne Gershon, MD
    • Dr. Gerson's research has included epidemiology, diagnosis, immunology, latency, prevention, and treatment of varicella and zoster.
  • Yiping Han, PhD
    • Work in the Han lab is focused on Investigating the role of oral bacteria in extra-oral infection and inflammation, investigating the mechanisms of Fusobacterium nucleatum pathogenesis in pregnancy complications and colorectal cancer, and developing genetic tools for mutant construction in bacteria.
  • Madra Moneek, PhD
    • Dr. Madra's research interests include impacts of postnatal stressors on feeding behaviors during adolescence, particularly related to anorexia nervosa, and the effects of early life stress on gut function, enteric nervous system development and gut brain interactions.
  • Megan Sykes, MD
    • Major areas of focus in the Sykes lab include hematopoietic cell transplantation, organ allograft tolerance induction, xenotransplantation tolerance and Type 1 diabetes.

Lipids, Lipoproteins, and Cardiovascular Disease

  • Brooke Aggarwal, EdD
    • The Aggarwal lab conducts clinical research studies aimed at understanding how lack of sleep increases cardiac risk among women. 
  • Robert Bauer, PhD
    • The Bauer Lab uses a mix of molecular biology, animal physiology, and functional genomics to translate human genetics studies into actionable biological mechanisms, with a specific focus on cardiometabolic traits.
  • William Blaner, PhD
    • The central focus of the Blaner Laboratory has been on retinoid metabolism and actions in maintaining normal health.
  • Richard Deckelbaum, MD, CM, FRCPC
    • The major focus of Dr. Deckelbaum’s laboratory is to determine regulatory mechanisms for cell-lipid particle interaction, and cell cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism.
  • Henry Ginsberg, MD
    • The Ginsberg lab conducts research related to the regulation of the levels and metabolism of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, the lipoproteins carrying triglycerides and the bulk of cholesterol in. These include the atherogenic very low density and low density lipoproteins.
  • Rebecca Haeusler, PhD
    • The goals of Dr. Haeusler's research are to understand the development of proatherogenic metabolic abnormalities in insulin resistant individuals, and to identify new therapeutic targets for improving these abnormalities.
  • Blandine Laferrere, MD, PhD
    • Dr. Laferrère’s laboratory studies mechanisms and biomarkers linking obesity and type 2 diabetes and the effect of various weight loss interventions, including tome restricted eating, on glucose and lipid metabolism and body composition in humans.
  • Lale Ozcan, MD
    • The focus of the Ozcan lab is identifying novel pathways involved in the regulation of glucose and cholesterol metabolism in the setting of obesity.
  • Muredach Reilly, MD, CM, FRCPC
    • The Reilly Group at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center is dedicated to translational and genomic studies of human cardiometabolic disorders.
  • Ira Tabas, MD, PhD
    • The Tabas laboratory studies the cellular biology of cardiometabolic disease, with an emphasis on the molecular-cellular mechanisms of advanced atherosclerosis and hepatic insulin resistance and NASH in obesity, and the links between these processes.
  • Allan Tall, MD
    • The Tall laboratory is conducting research on the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases including atherosclerosis, obesity and fatty liver.
  • Hanrui Zhang, PhD
    • Dr. Zhang’s laboratory seeks to understand the dynamic role of macrophages in cardiometabolic diseases with the aim of finding novel mechanisms and new treatments. 

Metabolism

  • Estela Area Gomez, PhD
    • Dr. Area Gomez's lab is currently researching how C99 contributes to the regulation of lipid homeostasis, and how the alteration in the level of C99 in MAMs plays a role in the pathogenesis of AD.
  • Richard Deckelbaum, MD, CM, FRCPC
    • The major focus of Dr. Deckelbaum’s laboratory is to determine regulatory mechanisms for cell-lipid particle interaction, and cell cholesterol and triglyceride metabolism.
  • Sabrina Diano, PhD
    • Dr. Diano’s research focuses on intracellular nutrient sensing mechanisms in brain cells regulating energy and glucose metabolism, and how their derangement promotes development of metabolic disorders.
  • John Glendinning, PhD
    • Dr. Glendinning investigates how the brain uses input from sensory systems in the mouth and gut to determine (a) the chemical composition of foods, (b) whether we like or dislike a particular food, and (c) which metabolic responses should be activated (e.g., insulin release) so as to facilitate post-absorptive processing of the food. 
  • Edward Owusu-Ansah, PhD
    • The Owusu-Ansah lab is interested in elucidating the signaling mechanisms that regulate adaptive compensatory responses to mitochondrial distress; and how interfering with these responses impact muscle and neuronal function.
  • Blandine Laferrere, MD, PhD
    • Dr. Laferrère studies mechanisms and biomarkers linking obesity and type 2 diabetes and the effect of various weight loss interventions on improved metabolism.
  • Martin Picard, PhD
    • Dr. Picard’s translational research program investigates mechanisms of mitochondrial psychobiology.
  • Liza Pon, PhD
    • Dr. Pon's lab studies the mechanism underlying the processes described below, how they affect lifespan and change as yeast cells age, and whether modulation of those processes can extend lifespan.
  • Ira Tabas, MD, PhD
    • The Tabas laboratory studies the cellular biology of cardiometabolic disease, with an emphasis on the molecular-cellular mechanisms of advanced atherosclerosis and hepatic insulin resistance and NASH in obesity, and the links between these processes.
  • Tiffany Thomas, PhD
    • Dr. Thomas has a research interest in using stable isotopes to understand impaired flux through metabolic pathways associated with acquired and inherited diseases.

Micronutrients and Development

  • Jonathan Barasch, MD, PhD
    • The goal of Dr. Barasch's research is to discover the mechanisms that produce the epithelial phenotype during the conversion of mesenchymal cells.
  • William Blaner, PhD
    • The central focus of the Blaner Laboratory has been on retinoid metabolism and actions in maintaining normal health.
  • Wellington Cardoso, MD, PhD
    • Research in the Cardoso lab focuses on the regulation of lung development, regeneration-repair and the role of developmental signaling in adult lung diseases.
  • R. Colin Carter, MD
    • Dr. Carter’s research interests focus on toxicology, specifically interactions between nutrition and alcohol-related teratology during pregnancy. 
  • Angela Christiano, PhD
    • The major focus of Christiano Lab research is the study of inherited skin and hair disorders in humans and mice, through a classical genetic approach including identification and phenotyping of disease families, genetic linkage, gene discovery and mutation analysis, and functional studies relating these findings to basic questions in epidermal biology.
  • Mary Gamble, PhD
    • Dr. Gamble's research focuses on nutritional biochemistry at both basic and applied levels. Her earlier work on retinoid metabolism included studies on proteins involved in retinoid transport and in the generation of transcriptionally active retinoic acid metabolites. 
  • Lloyd Greene, PhD
    • The overall goal of research in the Greene laboratory is to understand the mechanisms whereby neuronal precursors differentiate into mature functional neurons.
  • Kim Hekimian, PhD
    • Dr. Hekimian's research focuses on determinants of infant feeding practices, breastfeeding promotion, and nutrition during pregnancy and lactation. 
  • Cathy Mendelsohn, PhD
    • The Mendelsohn lab focuses on identification and characterization of  progenitors that are important for development and regeneration of the urothelium, a water-proof barrier that lines the urinary outflow tract.
  • Vidhu Thaker, MD
    • Dr. Thaker's work is focused on understanding the molecular underpinnings of severe early childhood obesity, and its influence on the clinical manifestations.
  • Stephen Tsang, MD, PhD
    • Dr. Tsang's genome engineering laboratory is engaged in tackling neurodegenerative disorders by pursuing investigations in three areas, two of which include patient-specific mouse models: probing the role of phosphodiesterase (PDE) signaling in neurodegeneration, developing stem cell-based therapies for photoreceptor degeneration, and correlating the genotypes of various human retinal degenerations with the phenotypes revealed in live metabolic imaging (autofluorescence).
  • Debra Wolgemuth, PhD
    • The research interests of the Wolgemuth lab focus on understanding the genetic control of gametogenesis and embryogenesis using mouse models and gene targeting, transgenic, and molecular and cell biological approaches. 
  • Lori Zeltser, PhD
    • Research in the Zeltser laboratory explores how developmental influences exert lasting impacts on body weight regulation.
  • Charles Zuker, PhD
    • Dr. Zuker and his team use the mammalian taste system to understand how the outside world is represented in the brain to guide actions and behaviors.

Neurobiology

  • R. Colin Carter, MD
    • Dr. Carter’s research interests focus on toxicology, specifically interactions between nutrition and alcohol-related teratology during pregnancy. 
  • Sabrina Diano, PhD
    • Dr. Diano’s research focuses on intracellular nutrient sensing mechanisms in brain cells regulating energy and glucose metabolism, and how their derangement promotes development of metabolic disorders
  • Michael Gershon, PhD
    • Dr. Gershon's research focuses on cell specification and differentiation, cellular/molecular/developmental neuroscience, and synapses and circuits.
  • John Glendinning, PhD
    • Dr. Glendinning investigates how the brain uses input from sensory systems in the mouth and gut to determine (a) the chemical composition of foods, (b) whether we like or dislike a particular food, and (c) which metabolic responses should be activated (e.g., insulin release) so as to facilitate post-absorptive processing of the food. 
  • Lloyd Greene, PhD
    • The overall goal of research in the Greene laboratory is to understand the mechanisms whereby neuronal precursors differentiate into mature functional neurons.
  • Kara Gross Margolis, MD
    • The Margolis Lab studies the effects of neurotransmitters and inflammation on enteric nervous system development and function. 
  • Madra Moneek, PhD
    • Dr. Madra's research interests include impacts of postnatal stressors on feeding behaviors during adolescence, particularly related to anorexia nervosa, and the effects of early life stress on gut function, enteric nervous system development and gut brain interactions.
  • Manuela Orjuela, MD
    • Dr. Orjuela-Grimm studies the association between dietary intake and neurocognition and behavior in Latina immigrants.
  • C. Daniel Salzman, MD, PhD
    • The Salzman lab studies the neural mechanisms that give particular sensory stimuli emotional value, leading to emotional behavior.
  • Linus Sun, MD, PhD
    • As a translational research laboratory studying the psychophysics and physiology of cognitive processes, the Sun lab uses eye tracking to diagnose neurological disease including progressive supranuclear palsy, cerebellar disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
  • Lori Zeltser , PhD
    • Research in the Zeltser laboratory explores how developmental influences exert lasting impacts on body weight regulation.
  • Charles Zuker, PhD
    • Dr. Zuker and his team use the mammalian taste system to understand how the outside world is represented in the brain to guide actions and behaviors.

Precision Medicine

  • Angela Christiano, PhD
    • The major focus of Christiano Lab research is the study of inherited skin and hair disorders in humans and mice, through a classical genetic approach including identification and phenotyping of disease families, genetic linkage, gene discovery and mutation analysis, and functional studies relating these findings to basic questions in epidermal biology.
  • Wendy Chung, MD, PhD
    • The Chung lab contributions have been in the discovery of new genes for human diseases and characterization of the mutation spectrum and molecular mechanism of disease, clinical characterization of the disorders associated with these gene mutations, and integration of these discoveries into clinical practice through the development and implementation of clinical genetic testing in medical care.
  • Millie Embree, DMD, PhD
    • The Embree lab uses basic and pathological scientific findings to serve as the foundation and building blocks essential for developing regenerative medicinal strategies to treat musculoskeletal disease, such as temporomandibular disorders and osteoarthritis.
  • Henry Ginsberg, MD
    • The Ginsberg lab conducts research related to the regulation of the levels and metabolism of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, the lipoproteins carrying triglycerides and the bulk of cholesterol in. These include the atherogenic very low density and low density lipoproteins.
  • Blandine Laferrere, MD, PhD
    • Dr. Laferrère’s laboratory studies mechanisms and biomarkers linking obesity and type 2 diabetes and the effect of various weight loss interventions, including tome restricted eating, on glucose and lipid metabolism and body composition in humans.
  • Muredach Reilly, MD, CM, FRCPC
    • The Reilly Group at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center is dedicated to translational and genomic studies of human cardiometabolic disorders.
  • Ira Tabas, MD, PhD
    • The Tabas laboratory studies the cellular biology of cardiometabolic disease, with an emphasis on the molecular-cellular mechanisms of advanced atherosclerosis and hepatic insulin resistance and NASH in obesity, and the links between these processes.
  • Vidhu Thaker, MD
    • Dr. Thaker's work is focused on understanding the molecular underpinnings of severe early childhood obesity, and its influence on the clinical manifestations.

Stem Cell Biology

  • Domenico Accili, MD
    • Dr. Accili's research has delved into the pathogenesis of diabetes, the integrated physiology of insulin action and mechanisms of pancreatic beta dysfunction. 
  • Dietrich Egli, PhD
    • The Egli lab works to find the mechanisms that result in abnormal and failed human development in order to mprove the efficiency of fertility treatments, to reduce the burden of disease-causing genetic change, and increase the chances of parents to have a healthy child.
  • Millie Embree, DMD, PhD
    • The Embree lab uses basic and pathological scientific findings to serve as the foundation and building blocks essential for developing regenerative medicinal strategies to treat musculoskeletal disease, such as temporomandibular disorders and osteoarthritis.
  • Henry Ginsberg, MD
    • The Ginsberg lab conducts research related to the regulation of the levels and metabolism of apolipoprotein B-containing lipoproteins, the lipoproteins carrying triglycerides and the bulk of cholesterol in. These include the atherogenic very low density and low density lipoproteins.
  • Rudolph Leibel, MD
    • Dr. Leibel's research focuses on the genetics of obesity and noninsulin-dependent diabetes.
  • Cathy Mendelsohn, PhD
    • The Mendelsohn lab focuses on identification and characterization of  progenitors that are important for development and regeneration of the urothelium, a water-proof barrier that lines the urinary outflow tract.
  • Stephen Tsang, MD, PhD
    • Dr. Tsang's genome engineering laboratory is engaged in tackling neurodegenerative disorders by pursuing investigations in three areas, two of which include patient-specific mouse models: probing the role of phosphodiesterase (PDE) signaling in neurodegeneration, developing stem cell-based therapies for photoreceptor degeneration, and correlating the genotypes of various human retinal degenerations with the phenotypes revealed in live metabolic imaging (autofluorescence).
  • Debra Wolgemuth, PhD
    • The research interests of the Wolgemuth lab focus on understanding the genetic control of gametogenesis and embryogenesis using mouse models and gene targeting, transgenic, and molecular and cell biological approaches.