Jeffrey S. Flier, M.D., whose research in diabetes and obesity has led to a greater understanding of insulin and leptin resistance, and to obesity's role in causing the metabolic syndrome (characterized by abdominal obesity, insulin-resistant diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hypertension), will serve as supervisor and principal investigator of the grant. Dr. Flier is Chief Academic Officer of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and George C. Reisman Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Simeon Taylor, M.D., Ph.D., vice president of Cardiovascular and Metabolics Discovery Biology at Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceutical Research Institute in Princeton, New Jersey, presented a commemorative plaque and a symbolic check for $500,000 to Dr. Flier at a reception on October 1, 2003 at the Medical Center. Guests included Paul Levy, president and CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Dr. Joseph Martin, dean of Harvard Medical School, and faculty and staff.
Dr. Taylor praised the discoveries and insights provided by Dr. Flier in the field of metabolic research. "Through his discovery of autoantibodies to the insulin receptor and mutations of the insulin receptor gene, Dr. Flier identified one of the mechanisms responsible for insulin resistance," said Dr. Taylor. "He used transgenic and gene knockout models to test hypotheses regarding insulin resistance and the role of brown adipose tissue in the pathogenesis of obesity. Recently, he and his group have clarified the mechanism of action and physiologic role of the fat-derived hormone leptin. They have demonstrated that leptin not only regulates appetite, but also
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Contact: Bonnie Prescott
bprescot@bidmc.harvard.edu
617-667-7306
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
2-Oct-2003