Young-Bum Kim, Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Principal Investigator, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC)
Dr. Kim’s research centers on the molecular control of glucose and energy homeostasis in conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and fatty liver disease.
Research Highlights: Kim’s group has reported roles for the kinase ROCK1 in hepatic and hypothalamic regulation of insulin sensitivity and leptin receptor signaling, and for the lipoprotein receptor LRP1 in hormone transport across brain barriers and in GABAergic circuits that influence body weight and memory. The lab also studies hepatokines, including ApoJ/clusterin, that mediate communication between liver and skeletal muscle and affect systemic insulin action.
Approaches: Research in the Kim Lab covers brain–body and organ-to-organ crosstalk involving liver, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and the central nervous system. Using genetic mouse models, viral and chemogenetic tools, single-cell and spatial analyses, and human tissue studies, the group investigates signaling pathways that may be targeted to modify metabolic disease and obesity-related brain disorders.