Molecular and neural basis of obesity

Professor Farooqi is an endocrinologist who is using genetic strategies, including exome sequencing, to study over 5000 patients with severe obesity. Her team are discovering mutations in novel obesity genes, whose functions are studied using a range of molecular and cellular approaches; these proteins modulate neural circuits involved in the regulation of appetite. Professor Farooqi is also running a parallel programme of translational research to examine the role of the relevant molecules in eating behaviour, energy expenditure and peripheral metabolism. Her overall aim is to make a major contribution to the design of pharmacological interventions to benefit patients with severe obesity.