Metabolism and Molecular Pharmacology in the Clemmensen Group

The focus of the Clemmensen Group is to dissect key regulatory nodes of body weight biology. We are particularly invested in parsing the physiological and molecular mechanisms that protect against weight gain. Toward this goal, we have established rodent and human models of ‘experimental overfeeding’. Another major focus area of the group is to unravel the consequences of energy balance perturbations on neuroplasticity – with special emphasis on glutamatergic post-synaptic events in the hypothalamus.

Inspired and encouraged by our research in energy balance and neuroscience, we employ medicinal chemistry to engineer new drug candidates for the treatment of obesity and obesity-associated diseases. We utilize modified peptide hormones to deliver small molecules of interest to target cells, with the long-term aspiration to create new drugs that will lower the defended level of body fat.