Overview
Humans are built to hunger for fat, packing it on during times of feast and burning it during periods of famine. But, as we are now deluged by foods rich in fat and sugar in addition to eating around the clock, the modern waistline often far exceeds the need to store energy for lean times. The result has been an epidemic of metabolic diseases. At Salk, we are deciphering new findings in metabolism, the complicated biological system that evolved to store and burn food for energy. These discoveries allow us to identify the molecular and genetic causes of obesity, diabetes and other related disorders. In the process, we’re developing the next generation of therapies to address these metabolic issues.
