The goal of the Wanders Lab is to investigate mechanisms by which dietary and pharmacologic interventions prevent or treat obesity and its comorbidities.

Obesity and associated metabolic disturbances, including inflammation and insulin resistance, are major factors predisposing individuals to chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The Wanders lab investigates mechanisms mediating dietary and pharmacologic interventions for obesity and associated complications.

Along with our collaborators, we investigate a number of different interventions, including methionine restriction, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), berries, and tocotrienols. We study the effects of these interventions on body weight and adiposity, energy balance, inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, glucose tolerance, and cancer cell growth in preclinical models.

Over the last several years, we have made progress in understanding the mechanisms by which dietary methionine restriction and FGF21 prevent or treat obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction.

Current Projects