faculty
Akhila Rajan
akhila@fredhutch.org
Assistant Professor
Fred Hutch
,Basic Sciences
Cell Signaling & Cell/Environment Interactions (Area Director)
Microbiology, Infection & Immunity
Neuroscience
How fat stores impact cognition, immunity and behavior
Faculty Contact Information
Research Summary
My lab studies how fat stores impact cognition, immunity and behavior. In the past 4 years, we uncovered how fat cells regulates adipokine secretion. We discovered a mechanism in fat cells to couple adipokine secretion to its nucleocytoplasmic localization. In parallel studies, we also elucidated how adipokines inhibit target neurons to maintain body weight. Now, we address: i) how fat cells package adipokines for delivery to the brain; ii) how protein localization in fat cells is regulated by nutrient state; iii) how fat interfaces with and impacts innate immunity.
Accepting Students For:
Rotation, Autumn
Rotation, Spring
Rotation, Summer
Rotation, Winter
Permanent