Karpe Group

We work on explaining the mechanisms underpinning human fat distribution. Abdominal adiposity is strongly associated with metabolic dysfunction leading to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, whereas gluteofemoral adiposity conveys a paradoxical protection against such disease outcome. Importantly, it is now clear that fat distribution is causally related to the metabolic complications of adiposity, but a detailed understanding of human regional adipose tissue function, its regulation at a cellular/molecular level and metabolic pathway involved is less clear. We are involved in work ranging from genetic and epigenetic control of human fat distribution and causal mechanisms providing a direct understanding of pathogenic pathways are interrogated using human adipocyte systems and human in vivo physiology to understand functional characteristics of human adipose tissue function.

The group operates the Oxford Biobank, which was established in year 2000 and is the first bioresource in the UK with a specific dedication to recall studies. The Oxford Biobank has ~9,000 local and randomly population-based participants that have provided informed consent to be recalled. Participants have whole-genome SNP typing and detailed biochemical and anthropometric characterisation. Bespoke recall studies are designed to facilitate translational medicine. The Oxford Biobank is set up to allow for recall-by-genotype, recall-by-PRS, recall-by-HLA type and recall-by-phenotype and is supporting small, mechanistic studies across a range of disease areas: diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular, neuroscience and inflammatory disease.

Collaborators

Professor Sarah Lewington, NDPH, University of Oxford
Professor Susanne Mandrup, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

Funders

British Heart Foundation