Jeffrey M. Friedman

Jeffrey M. Friedman is the Marilyn M. Simpson Professor at The Rockefeller University and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. He leads the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, focusing on molecular and neural mechanisms regulating food intake and body weight. His groundbreaking discovery of leptin, a hormone critical for energy homeostasis, revolutionized obesity research. Friedman holds academic roles in the David Rockefeller Graduate Program and Tri-Institutional M.D.-Ph.D. Program. His research spans leptin signaling, neural circuits controlling feeding, and genetic studies of metabolic disorders.

Education:

• B.S., Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (1973)
• M.D., Albany Medical College (1977)
• Ph.D., The Rockefeller University (1986)

Research Interests:

Dr. Friedman explores how leptin regulates energy balance, identifies neural circuits driving feeding behavior, and investigates leptin resistance mechanisms. His work extends to genetic studies of obesity in humans and the role of leptin in conditions like lipodystrophy and diabetes. Key areas include hypothalamic signaling, adipose tissue innervation, and long noncoding RNAs affecting leptin expression.

Recent Findings:

Recent studies revealed leptin's role in adipose tissue nerve growth via BDNF signaling and identified ADCYAP1+ neurons influencing sickness behavior. His lab also uncovered LncOb's role in obesity and explored mesolimbic pathways hijacked by addictive drugs.

Awards:

• Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award (2010)
• Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences (2020)
• Wolf Prize in Medicine (2019)

Advising & Labs:

He mentors students in genetics and metabolism. His lab collaborates on human obesity studies in Turkey and Kosrae Island populations. Research extends to clinical applications of leptin and GLP-1-based therapies.

Lab & Teams:

The Laboratory of Molecular Genetics integrates genetics, neuroscience, and metabolism to dissect obesity's molecular basis. Collaborations include the Kavli Neural Systems Institute and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.