Genetics of Obesity
June 26, 2008
Boston
New research is emerging on the potential role of genetics in obesity. While behavioral aspects are an important component in developing obesity, scientists are working to understand what genetic variations predispose certain individuals to obesity, and what impact these factors have on metabolic function. Accordingly, having a better understanding of the genetics of obesity may lead to future personalized treatments for individuals with certain biological variations.
A panel of world-renowned physicians and researchers will present new research on the relationship between genetics and the onset of obesity-related pathologies. They will also explore whether certain dietary/nutritional components may prevent the development and progression of these complications.
No webcast recordings are available for this event.
Welcome
W. Allan Walker, MD
Conrad Taff Professor of Nutrition
Professor of Pediatrics
Director, Division of Nutrition, Harvard Medical School
Keynote Address: Molecular Physiology of Weight Regulation
Rudolph L. Leibel, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine
Head, Division of Molecular Genetics
Co-Director, Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center
Columbia University Medical Center
Session I - Monogenic and Polygenic Forms of Obesity in Humans
Moderator:
Joel Hirschhorn, MD, PhD
Overview of the Genetics of Obesity
Joel Hirschhorn, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Genetics
Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Senior Associate Member and Co-director, Metabolism Initiative
Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT
Insights From Deep Resequencing in Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity
Len Pennacchio, PhD
Senior Staff Scientist, Genomics Division Program Leader
Genetic Analysis & Genomic Technologies Programs
Joint Genome Institute
Genetics and Biology of Bardet-Biedl Syndrome
Nicholas Katsanis, PhD
Associate Professor, Institute of Genetic Medicine
Departments of Ophthalmology, Molecular Biology and Genetics
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Searching Genes for Obesity – Is Genomewide Association the Solution?
Ruth Loos, PhD
Programme Leader (track)
MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science
Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, UK
Gene-diet Interactions in Obesity and Metabolic Diseases
Frank Hu, MD, PhD
Professor of Nutrition and Epidemiology
Department of Nutrition
Department of Epidemiology
Harvard School of Public Health
Roundtable Forum
Session II - Genetics of Obesity in Animal Models
Moderator:
Rudolph L. Leibel, MD, PhD
Overview
Streamson C. Chua, Jr., MD, PhD
Professor, Department of Medicine
Professor, Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience
Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Genetic and Functional Genomic Analysis of C. elegans Neuroendocrine Control of Fat Storage
Gary Ruvkun, PhD
Professor, Department of Genetics
Harvard Medical School
Center for Computational and Integrative Medicine
Department of Molecular Biology
Massachusetts General Hospital
Smiches Research Center
Gastrointestinal Regulation of Metabolic Function
Lee M. Kaplan, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Director, MGH Weight Center
Associate Chief for Research, Gastroenterology
Massachusetts General Hospital
Gene-environment Interactions in Rodent Models of Obesity
Barry Levin, MD
Professor and Vice Chair,
Department of Neurology & Neurosciences
New Jersey Medical School and E. Orange NJ VA Medical Center
Genetic Dissection of Neural Circuits Controlling Energy Homeostasis
Brad Lowell, MD, PhD
Professor of Medicine
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harvard Medical School
Roundtable Forum
Andrew Greenberg, MD
Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins
Professorship in Metabolism and Nutrition Scientist I and Director, Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory
Jean Mayer USDA HNRCA
Tufts University