Samantha Laber
Postgraduate Student
BSc Biomedical Sciences (Physiology) from the University of Aberdeen
My research areas of interest are primarily the genetics of metabolism and obesity. In Prof Juleen Zierath’s lab at the Karolinska Institute I studied the epigenetics of obesity and diabetes. For my doctoral studies I joined Prof Roger Cox’s lab at MRC Harwell, where I am working on the FTO locus. SNPs in FTO intron 1 and 2 are strongly associated with human BMI. I am currently investigating the function and regulation of genes within the FTO locus specifically in adipocyte precursors with the aim to decipher the mechanisms by which these genes affect metabolism.
Recent publications
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Large scale meta-analysis highlights the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in the genetic regulation of menstrual cycle length.
Journal article
Laisk T. et al, (2018), Hum Mol Genet
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The genetic underpinnings of body fat distribution.
Journal article
Pulit SL. et al, (2017), Expert Rev Endocrinol Metab, 12, 417 - 427
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Mouse Models of Human GWAS Hits for Obesity and Diabetes in the Post Genomic Era: Time for Reevaluation.
Journal article
Laber S. and Cox RD., (2017), Front Endocrinol (Lausanne), 8
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FTO influences adipogenesis by regulating mitotic clonal expansion.
Journal article
Merkestein M. et al, (2015), Nat Commun, 6
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Commentary: FTO obesity variant circuitry and adipocyte browning in humans.
Journal article
Laber S. and Cox RD., (2015), Front Genet, 6