Epigenomic Regulation of Energy Metabolism

The medical problem:
Metabolic Diseases like obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) are global medical emergencies which arise as consequence of disease-permissive genetic variation, unhealthy diet intake and obesity-promoting lifestyles that deteriorate metabolic health by altered gene regulation in key metabolic organs like fat tissue.

Our approach:
The Kornfeld Lab is specifically interested in understanding how epigenetic regulatory processes like changes in non-protein coding RNAs and altered chromatin states affect organism-, tissue- and cellular energy homeostasis and inter-organ crosstalk. We bring together strong molecular genomic techniques with a sound understanding of metabolic regulation. We value high-quality training of students, collaboration with domain experts across the globe and publishing our findings in high-impact journals.

Our goals:
Our short-term fundamental research goal is to define novel disease-associated molecular signatures that promote obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D) in transgenic model organisms. Our long-term translational research goal aim is to target disease-promoting processes using nutritional intervention strategies, noncoding RNA manipulation and novel tools such as adeno-associated virus vectors for gene correction in human patients.