Charles Burant

Charles Burant is Professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health and holds a professorship in the Section of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes within the Medical School's Department of Internal Medicine. He holds the endowed Dr. Robert C. and Veronica Atkins Professor of Metabolism chair. His clinical practice focuses on obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related metabolic disorders at the WK Kellogg Eye Center, Brehm Tower in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Burant's research integrates multi-omic approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) with clinical and behavioral phenotypes to unravel mechanisms of obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. His laboratory investigates pancreatic beta-cell metabolism, insulin secretion dynamics, and adult pancreatic progenitor cells for beta-cell regeneration. As director of the Michigan Metabolomics and Obesity Center (MMOC), he oversees the NIH-funded Nutrition Obesity Research Center and Michigan Regional Comprehensive Metabolomics Resource Core, providing critical infrastructure for metabolic disease research. The MMOC also coordinates the Investigational Weight Management Clinic, which combines clinical care with phenotypic tracking to study diabetes prevention and weight regain mechanisms in formerly obese patients.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals dominant themes in multi-omic exercise physiology, causal metabolite-disease relationships, and tissue-specific metabolic adaptations. His work consistently emphasizes sexual dimorphism, temporal dynamics, and molecular mechanisms in metabolic disorders, particularly through large-scale consortia like MoTrPAC. Key focus areas include lipid metabolism in disease contexts, adipose tissue remodeling, and mitochondrial function across tissues.

While no specific scientific awards beyond his endowed chair are listed, his leadership of major NIH-funded centers demonstrates significant recognition. His grant portfolio includes infrastructure support through the MMOC, NORC, and Metabolomics Resource Core, enabling extensive human and animal studies in metabolic diseases.

Dr. Burant directs the MMOC's integration of research and clinical care through the Investigational Weight Management Clinic. His laboratory maintains active programs in insulin resistance mechanisms using animal models and explores pancreatic progenitor cell applications for diabetes therapy, representing forward-looking approaches to metabolic disease treatment.