Role of brown adipose tissue in metabolic health

Brown adipose tissue has recently emerged as an important player in energy metabolism as it dissolves high amounts of lipid and glucose into heat. Therefore, brown adipose tissue is now being considered as a novel target to combat obesity and related diseases such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In our group, we aim to unravel the physiology of brown adipose tissue, to find biomarkers and novel visualisation techniques to detect and quantify BAT activity, and to identify novel handles to activate brown adipose tissue. To achieve these goals, we combine studies in individuals prone to develop type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, including the South Asian population, with translational studies in APOE*3-Leiden.CETP transgenic mice, a well-established mouse model for human-like lipoprotein metabolism. The ultimate goal is to find novel ways for activation brown adipose tissue to enhance energy expenditure and combat the diabesity epidemic. Brown adipose tissue is the main focus of the research line of Prof Patrick Rensen and is funded by e.g. Dutch Heart Foundation (Established Investigator Grant), Dutch Diabetes Research Foundation, European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EFSD), Rembrandt Institute for Cardiovascular Science (RICS) and CardioVascular Research Netherlands (CVON-GENIUS and CVON-ENERGISE consortia).