Ali Tavakkoli, MD

Institution: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Research: Surgical and Metabolic Research
Grants & Publications: Harvard Catalyst
Categories: BWH

Over the past several decades, obesity and its attendant metabolic disorders, in particular, type-2 diabetes have reached epidemic proportions. The field of metabolic surgery arose from the observation that procedures such as Roux-en-Y gastric bypass can significantly improve diabetes, independent of its effect on weight. While this empiric observation has been repeatedly validated in large, randomized studies, the underlying molecular mechanism of this phenomenon remains largely elusive. Our lab’s overarching thrust is to understand the mechanistic underpinnings of the anti-diabetic effects of bariatric operations and to leverage this knowledge to develop novel therapies for patients that are more effective and less invasive.