Douglas Mashek, PhD

The Mashek laboratory has broad interests in understanding the biochemical basis of metabolic diseases (Type 2 Diabetes, NAFLD, obesity), cancer, and aging, and how interventions such as diet influence these processes. A central theme of our laboratory that connects these diverse research areas is lipid droplet (LD) biology. These organelles represent the primary storage form of energy in nearly all cell types and their excess in most tissues is a sign of metabolic that further explore the biochemistry and cell biology of lipid droplets in a variety of cell types (liver, muscle, adipose) as well as translational studies tightly intertwined with lipid droplet biology. Our laboratory employs a wide range of experimental techniques ranging from basic biochemistry, molecular biology, enzymology, and cell biology to animal models to clinical trials. Ongoing areas of emphasis include how LDs cause inflammation, how LD interactions with other organelles compartmentalize metabolism and signaling, how LD breakdown is beneficial and conveys similar benefits to fasting or caloric restriction, and defining how nutrient-sensing nodes (epigenomic modifiers) connect changes in metabolism to cell function and disease etiology.