Fawaz G. Haj

Fawaz G. Haj is a Professor in the Department of Nutrition and the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of California, Davis. He is based in Meyer Hall and leads an active research laboratory focused on metabolic diseases. He also serves in key administrative roles, including Director of the Meyer Hall Animal Facility and former Co-Director of the Metabolism and Endocrinology Core at the National Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center.

Education:

• B.Sc. in Biology, American University of Beirut
• M.Sc. in Biomedical Sciences, Bradford University
• D.Phil. in Physiology, Oxford University

Dr. Haj's research centers on the molecular basis of metabolic diseases, particularly type 2 diabetes and obesity. His lab investigates the role of protein-tyrosine phosphatases and their signaling networks in metabolic regulation using genetic, biochemical, proteomic, and pharmacological approaches across cellular, rodent, and human models. This integrative strategy enables deep exploration of dysregulated signaling in metabolic homeostasis and disease complications.

The publications by Dr. Haj, accessible via PubMed, consistently focus on signal transduction in metabolic tissues, tyrosine phosphorylation dynamics, and therapeutic targeting of phosphatases in diabetes. The research spans molecular physiology, systems biology, and translational medicine, showing a long-term commitment to understanding the fundamental mechanisms of metabolic disease.

Scientific Awards:

• Oxford Overseas Bursaries (1997)
• Oxford Overseas Research Scholarship (1997)
• Certificate of Excellence in Research, Harvard University (2001)
• American Diabetes Association Junior Faculty Award (2006)
• UC Davis Hellman Fellow (2008)
• UC Davis Faculty Leadership Academy (2018)
• LEAD21 National Faculty Leadership Program (2019)

Dr. Haj has been instrumental in mentoring graduate students and postdoctoral researchers, with recent recognition awarded to Grace LeBleu for multiple fellowships and research presentations. He has secured significant institutional and national-level support, including the Hellman Fellowship and leadership training grants, reflecting sustained research excellence. His administrative roles in core facilities and departmental leadership (e.g., Vice-Chair of Nutrition Department) highlight his institutional impact and commitment to academic infrastructure.

Dr. Haj leads the Haj Lab, which operates within the Department of Nutrition at UC Davis. The lab utilizes advanced platforms including cellular imaging, gene knockout models, and system biology approaches to study metabolic regulation. It is closely affiliated with the National Mouse Metabolic Phenotyping Center, providing access to state-of-the-art phenotyping resources. The team fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and international engagement, as seen in Dr. Haj’s recent moderation of a U.S.-Kuwait research workshop on precision medicine for chronic metabolic diseases.