Kevin Lee

Dr. Kevin Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at Ohio University's Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, with additional affiliation at the Diabetes Institute. His research investigates adipocyte subpopulation heterogeneity and its metabolic implications in obesity and diabetes.

Dr. Lee earned his Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Baylor College of Medicine (2007) and dual Bachelor's degrees in Biology (B.S.) and Philosophy (B.A.) from the University of Illinois (1999).

The Lee Lab pioneers research on white adipose tissue heterogeneity, discovering developmentally distinct adipocyte subpopulations. Using innovative mouse models and cellular techniques, the lab examines molecular mechanisms underlying adipocyte diversity and their systemic metabolic effects. Key expertise spans molecular biology, adipose physiology, obesity mechanisms, and diabetes pathogenesis, with emphasis on cellular heterogeneity within fat depots.

Dr. Lee's 2011-2018 publications reveal consistent focus on adipose biology, with breakthroughs in adipocyte subpopulation identification (2018 EMBO Journal), growth hormone regulation of lipolysis (2018 Journal of Endocrinology), and genetic determinants of depot-specific function (2013 PNAS). His work bridges molecular mechanisms with metabolic disease implications.

Dr. Lee's significant awards include:

• Junior Faculty Development Award, American Diabetes Association (2017)
• R15 (AREA) Award, National Institutes of Health (2016)

Dr. Lee actively mentors Ph.D. candidates, medical students, and undergraduates, with current advisees including Quyen Luong (D.O./Ph.D.), Jun Huang (Ph.D.), and Mara Leyendecker (D.O. student). His NIH and ADA-funded research examines obesity's impact on adipocyte subpopulations, aiming to identify therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders through molecular and cellular approaches.

The Lee Lab utilizes state-of-the-art techniques including mouse genetics, confocal microscopy, and lineage tracing. International collaborations, such as the 2017 partnership with Munich's Helmholtz Diabetes Center, enhance the lab's imaging capabilities. Dr. Lee recruits graduate students through Biological Sciences and Molecular Cellular Biology programs, and undergraduates seeking hands-on research experience in obesity and diabetes mechanisms.