My research has focused on central regulation of energy balance. I studied the role of hypothalamic sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and endoplasmic reticulum stress in the regulation of food intake and body weight. Later, I focused on small molecule leptin sensitizers and their role in energy and glucose metabolism.

Our group is interested in the central and peripheral regulation of metabolism. We focus on leptin signaling and how leptin sensitivity could be modulated to alter food intake and body weight. Recently, we identified two targets, HDAC6 and NRF2, whose peripheral activity is linked to central circuitries controlling energy balance downstream of leptin. Peripheral and central components of these signaling pathways, systemic factors involved in energy metabolism, and the molecular components of central leptin resistance are active areas of our research program.