As Professor of Medicine at Columbia University, I have experience in human genetics and functional genomics, genetic epidemiology, mechanistic translational research and cardiometabolic medicine.

My research program is dedicated to translational genomic studies and focused on (1) cell specific (e.g., adipocyte and macrophage) genomic and transcriptomic contributions to human cardio-metabolic disorders, (2) the functions of adipose tissue in insulin resistance and atherosclerotic risk, (3) novel mechanisms of human atherosclerosis underlying recent GWAS discoveries, (4) the role on innate immunity in promoting cardio-metabolic disease. We employ a translational and genomic approach including human functional genomics, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology and gene-editing, animal based mechanistic studies, patient-oriented interrogation as well as large scale genetic epidemiological studies.

In my role as Director of the Irving Institute for Clinical and Translational Research at Columbia, I also build programs in clinical and translational research and in precision medicine while continuing my research program in cardio-metabolic diseases. I have nearly 20 years in NIH grant funding experience and publications as well as mentorship and teaching activities.