The goal of my work in the Laboratory of Metabolism and Human Behavior at Rockefeller University is to determine the role of the autonomic nervous system, in particular the parasympathetic nervous system, in controlling weight. The ultimate goal is to determine whether the genes for obesity, which are being sought by other members of the lab, operate via the autonomic nervous system.

In addition, members of our group are participating in a long-term multi-center trial of the anti-obesity properties of a new pancreatic lipase inhibitor, orlistat.

In the near future, we plan to study weight gain in breast cancer patients who are treated with the combination of cytoxan, methotrexate, and 5-flourouracil.