David Carling

Professor David Carling is a Professor of Biochemistry at the Institute of Clinical Sciences within Imperial College London's Faculty of Medicine. He leads the Cellular Stress Group at the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences and has held this position since 1990. His research focuses on the role of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in metabolic regulation, particularly its implications for obesity, cancer, and metabolic diseases. Affiliations include the Centre for Translational Nutrition and Food Research, the Immuno-Pathology Network, and the Vascular Science Network.

David Carling holds a PhD from the University of Dundee (1987) and a BSc from the University of Bristol (1984). His work combines molecular, cellular, and systems approaches to investigate how metabolic dysregulation drives disease. Key research themes include AMPK's role in inflammation, fibrosis, and cancer, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target.

His publications span mechanisms of AMPK activation, metabolic pathways in cancer, and the interplay between energy sensing and immune responses. Notable studies explore how AMPK modulates macrophage function, suppresses tumor growth, and corrects non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. His findings highlight AMPK's versatility as a regulator of diverse biological processes.

Carling’s research has contributed to drug development targeting metabolic pathways, with implications for diabetes, atherosclerosis, and neuroblastoma. His interdisciplinary approach bridges basic science and translational medicine, emphasizing the clinical relevance of metabolic mechanisms.