Florian Merkle, PhD
Principal Investigator at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
2019 NYSCF – Robertson Stem Cell Investigator
PhD, University of California, San Francisco
Postdoctoral Training, Harvard University
Bio
Dr. Merkle is a Principal Investigator at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom. His laboratory aims to tackle obesity by turning stem cells into large numbers of proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons, key brain cells that secrete a hormone (MSH) that potently suppresses feeding. He studies how genes associated with obesity affect the function of POMC neurons, and whether certain drugs can promote MSH production and release. This work will pave the way for future obesity studies in humans. He completed his postdoctoral studies at Harvard University.