Research group "Functional Genetics of Obesity"
Group members
- Akin Cayir, Dr., PhD, akin.cayir@medisin.uio.no
- Sadia Saeed, Dr., PhD, sadia.saeed@medisin.uio.no
- Torunn Rønningen, Dr., PhD, torunn.ronningen@medisin.uio.no
- Stina Svensson, MSc., PhD student, s.i.a.svensson@medisin.uio.no
- Marwa Ali Omar, BSc., Master student, marwa.ali.omar@nmbu.no
- Mai Britt Dahl, MSc., Senior engineer, m.b.dahl@medisin.uio.no
- Tone Gretland Valderhaug, Dr., MD, PhD, Clinical consultant, obesity clinic, tone.gretland.valderhaug@ahus.no
- Yvonne Böttcher, Professor Dr., Group leader, yvonne.bottcher@medisin.uio.no
Academic interests
Obesity is one of the major health challenges worldwide and predisposes to multiple other metabolic and non-metabolic comorbidities. Identification of genetic susceptibility variants has exploded during the last decade, however explains only a marginal part of the heritability of obesity.
Our group is interested in a better understanding of the role of epigenetic mechanisms in obesity, the molecular mechanisms imposed by RNA modifications (epi-transcriptome) and its potential interplay with genetic risk variants.
Projects
- molecular mechanisms underlying individual human fat distribution - interplay of epitranscriptomic marks and genetic variants
- role of epitranscriptomic marks in obesity and adipose tissue depot-specificity
- chromatin accessibility and histone modifications in obesity
- RNA methylation signatures in type 2 diabetes
Academic background group leader
Education & Training
- 2005: PhD in Biology, University of Leipzig, Germany
- 2000: Diploma/Master of Science in Biology, Germany
Current positions
- Head of Department Clinical Molecular Biology, EpiGen, at the Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
- Professor of Molecular Medicine and head of research group "Functional genetics of obesity", Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, EpiGen, University of Oslo, Norway
- 20% Research Professor at Akershus University Hospital, EpiGen, Lørenskog, Norway
Fellowships, Prizes & Awards
-
2023: finalist to establish a novel K.G. Jebsen Center for Obesity Research
-
2021: finalist to establish a novel K.G. Jebsen Center for Obesity Research
- 2020: Ferdinand-Bertram-Prize 20.000€; the oldest and most prestigious science award for excellent research of the German Diabetes Society
- 2013: EFSD/Lilly Research Fellowship 50.000€
- 2008-2010: Postdoctoral research fellowship from the German Research Foundation; (2 year full salary) highly competitive for top young researchers; planned 2 year stay at Wellcome Trust Center for Human Genetics, Oxford, UK
- 2006-2008: Postdoctoral research fellowship from the prestigious Peter and Traudl Engelhorn Foundation; (2 year full salary; ~115.200€); given to a total of 6 fellows from all Germany, Austria and Switzerland
- 2006: Hans-Christian-Hagedorn-Prize 9.000€
- 2006: Best Research Poster Prize, Research Festival, University of Leipzig, Germany
Memberships of scientific societies
- 2020-ongoing: Member of the German Diabetes Society (DDG)
- 2018-ongoing: Member of the Nordic Society for Precision Medicine (NSPM)
- 2016-ongoing: Member of Norwegian Obesity Research Association (NFFF)
- 2015-2016: Member of the European Society for Human Genetics (ESHG)
- 2011-ongoing: Member of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)