Rudolph L. Leibel, MD

Rudolph L. Leibel, MD

I am interested in the molecular physiology of body weight regulation and beta cell function. my research is conducted using stem cells, mice and human subjects.

1. the role(s) of primary cilia in mediating development and function of hypothalamic cells mediating body weight regulation;

2. the role of the cerebellum in ingestive behaviors;

3. the identification of genes affecting body weight and beta cell function in humans using pedigree analysis and whole exome/genome sequencing;

4. generation of hypothalamic and islet organoids from human somatic cells;

5. molecular physiology of weight regain in human subjects.

Some of these projects are conducted in collaboration with others at Columbia's Zuckerman Institute, including Nate Sawtell, Rui Costa, Charles Zuker, Dan Salzman, and their students, fellows.

Burnett, Lisa C., et al. "Deficiency in prohormone convertase PC1 impairs prohormone processing in Prader-Willi syndrome." The Journal of clinical investigation 127.1 (2017): 293-305.

Skowronski, Alicja A., et al. "Physiological consequences of transient hyperleptinemia during discrete developmental periods on body weight in mice." Science Translational Medicine 12.524 (2020).

Stratigopoulos, George, et al. "Hypomorphism for RPGRIP1L, a ciliary gene vicinal to the FTO locus, causes increased adiposity in mice." Cell metabolism 19.5 (2014): 767-779.

Rosenbaum, Michael, et al. "Low-dose leptin reverses skeletal muscle, autonomic, and neuroendocrine adaptations to maintenance of reduced weight." The Journal of clinical investigation 115.12 (2005): 3579-3586.

Wang, Liheng, et al. "Regulation of intracellular signaling and neuron function by Bardet-Biedl Syndrome proteins in patient-specific iPSC-derived neurons." bioRxiv (2020).