I am a clinical pathophysiologist with research focus on the pathology of pediatric obesity. At the molecular level, my chief interest is immunometabolism; specifically, innate immune signaling, which sustains healthy metabolism by balancing protective and destructive immunity. Protective immunity ensures the neutralization of pathogens and cancer cells, and favors metabolism and growth. By contrast, destructive immunity damages metabolism and cell integrity, by uncontrolled inflammation or self-immunity.
Summary of research:
1. Mitochondrial RNA is a key signal that sustains heat production from fat, and this signal mechanism protects from obesity. Nat Metab 4: 1684–1696 [IF 19.865], highlighted study in Nature Reviews Endocrinology.
2. Breast milk lipids establish a mother-to-child signalling mechanism, triggering heat production from fat. This effect is mediated by macrophages and protects from obesity. J Clin Invest, 130:2485-2499 [IF 13.251] Highlighted study in Science and Science Translational Medicine.
3. A neuropeptide (neuropeptide FF, NPFF) is expressed in the pancreatic islets and maintains a lean, low-inflammation status of the adipose tissue. J Clin Invest 127:2842-2854 [IF 13.250].
4. Adipose tissue macrophages develop from fetal hematopoietic tissue and maintain self-renewal capacity in the adult fat. NPFF, STAT6 and MafB control this process and protect from adipose tissue inflammation. J Leukocyte Biology 102: 845-855 [IF 4.165], J Clin Invest 125:809-23 [IF 13.215]

Advisory activity: university didactics and personal development; health sciences and drug testing. Scientific publishing and work in editorial boards.
Creative hobbies: creating anatomical and zoological illustrations, using diverse materials, mostly acrylic, aquarelle and charcoal. My artworks are displayed at thematic art exhibitions and eventually published in scientific books by Springer-Nature. In my free time I practice competitive sport (powerlifting).