Prof David Carling

Imperial College London, United Kingdom

During his PhD at Dundee University, David characterized a protein kinase termed AMPK. He was awarded an MRC Training Fellowship at the MRC Clinical Research Centre to develop molecular biology skills to clone AMPK. In 1992 he moved to the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences where he have worked ever since. David was made Professor in Biochemistry at Imperial College in 2004. His research continues to investigate the regulation and physiological role of AMPK, particularly in the control of metabolism. David’s research focuses on investigating the physiological role of AMPK in metabolism. AMPK is the central component of a protein kinase cascade that plays a key role in maintaining energy homeostasis. Dysregulation of energy metabolism occurs in a wide range of human diseases, including obesity and cancer. His group is particularly interested in determining the efficacy of AMPK activation for the treatment of fatty liver disease, obesity and prostate cancer. Recently, they developed a gain-of-function AMPK mouse model that they are using to support their pre-clinical studies. Genetic AMPK activation protects mice against diet-induced obesity. One of the mechanisms for this protection involves the reprogramming of white adipocytes to a skeletal muscle-like cell that has increased thermogenesis mediated by calcium futile cycling. They have also shown that AMPK activation reduces prostate cancer progression in a Pten-deletion mouse model. Their current emphasis is to move their work closer to the clinic.