Caroline Alexander

We evaluate whether regulated heat loss through skin provides cues that determine the rate thermogenesis and the total energy expenditure to affect systems-wide metabolism. Thermogenesis is a major consumer of glucose and fatty acids, and activation of thermogenesis enhances glucose disposition and metabolic health. To date, we have identified key heat transfer properties to describe the thermodynamic properties of skin, and compared the regulation of skin-associated adipose depots in mouse and human. Our goal is to determine which lipids in skin determine the heat transfer properties, with the goal of modifying lipid content to enhance metabolic health and to reduce the burden of obesity and diabetes.