Molecular Genetics | Department of Pediatrics

Overview

The Division of Molecular Genetics and the Leibel Laboratory focus on the genetics of obesity and non-insulin dependent diabetes (diabetes mellitus type 2). The laboratory has mapped, cloned, and identified mutations in the obese, diabetes, and fatty genes in humans, rats, and mice, and focuses on defining the physiological basis by which signaling networks regulate body size and composition. The laboratory is also the Molecular Biology Core laboratory of the New York Obesity Research Center and the Columbia Diabetes Research Center.

Members of the lab are experts in the use of naturally occurring and transgenic rodent models to identify candidate molecules, and in vetting these candidates in large numbers of human subjects using high throughput methods (SNP detection, copy number analysis, and high throughput sequencing).

The division also co-administers research activities for the Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, making this a division that operates across many scientific and administrative areas of the university.

Programs and centers include:

The Division of Molecular Genetics provides opportunities for graduate students to receive training and mentorships leading to a doctorate degree. Interested students who have been accepted into the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences can rotate through our laboratories before deciding whether to consider their research projects in our labs under the mentorship of our faculty.

Frontiers in Diabetes Research provides fellowship awards to post docs and awards to research scholars based on a competitive application process. Award recipients receive awards for one year, with the opportunity to continued research support for a second year. This program includes an annual topic-specific research symposium.

Russell Berrie Obesity Research Initiative (Leibel and Zuker) provides awards to senior investigators for research projects in the area of neuroscience of ingestive behavior and body weight regulation. Additional awards are made for and feasibility studies. There is a competitive application process each year. Awards may be made for one year, with the opportunity for a second year of funding.

The Molecular Genetics Fellowship is a non-ACGME accredited program that provides opportunities for postdoctoral training in the genetic basis for monogenic or complex medical and physiological phenotypes using both human and animal models. Areas of special interest are obesity, types 1 and 2 diabetes, MODY, breast cancer, pulmonary hypertension, congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, inherited arrhythmias, congenital diaphragmatic hernias, oral clefts, and spinal muscular atrophy.

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Molecular Genetics | Department of Pediatrics