Research Categories - Metabolism; Metabolic Disease and Aging

The studies at HMS in metabolic diseases and aging are highlighted by the provocative work on a class of proteins called sirtuins. This class of molecules plays a significant role in normal metabolism and homeostasis, and is also implicated in the aging process. David Sinclair and Marcia Haigis are making important strides toward elucidating the pleiotropic effects of these proteins, and defining their role in diseases such as diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. Other laboratories are studying different facets of diabetes.

Related Investigators

  1. Walter Fontana, PhD

    Information biology: principles, limits, and evolution of information processing in molecular systems

    Develop, apply, and establish the concept of programs as models to represent, model, and analyze complex systems of molecular interactions underlying cellular behavior; empirically characterize and ...

  2. Marcia Haigis, PhD

    Mitochondrial dysfunction in aging and disease: bioenergetics, metabolomics, and cell stress

    Study the role of  the sirtuins in metabolism, aging, and disease

  3. Keith Mansfield, DVM

    Infectious diseases and aging: simian AIDS; opportunistic infection; diet

    Infectious diseases, aging, and dietary intervention.

  4. Pamela Silver, PhD

    Systems and synthetic biology: gene expression; synthetic proteins; biofuel

    Investigate a wide spectrum of biological phenomena. Starting with gene regulation as a core theme, investigate nuclear spatial architecture, synthetic biology, epigenetics, systems biology, ...

  5. David Sinclair, PhD

    Sirtuins in aging and disease: calorie restriction; mitochondria; cancer; diabetes

    Study sirtuin pathways, their role in multiple diseases and their lifespan extension capabilities.

  6. Charles Weitz, MD, PhD

    Biological mechanisms of circadian clocks and their roles in metabolic processes

    Investigate molecular mechanisms of circadian clocks in the brain, retina, and peripheral tissues  

  7. Susan Westmoreland, VMD

    Neuropathology of HIV and SIV infections and AIDS

    Explore the molecular and cellular bases of neuropathologies associated with HIV and SIV infections, including encephalitis and dementia.  

  8. Fred Winston, PhD

    Mechanisms of eukaryotic gene expression in yeast: transcriptional regulation; chromatin structure

    Employs yeast as a model organism to study mechanisms of eukaryotic transcriptional regulation.  

  9. Bruce Yankner, MD, PhD

    Molecular mechanisms of aging and aging-related neurodegenerative diseases

    Explore aging at the molecular level, employing a systems biology approach