our team

ira tabas, phD

Dr. Tabas is the Richard J. Stock Professor of Medicine and Cell Biology at

Columbia University. His research focuses on (1) molecular-cellular mechanisms

of atherosclerosis, with an emphasis on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and

inflammation in macrophages and dendritic cells; (2) pro-atherogenic roles of insulin

resistance and type 2 diabetes; and (3) calcium and ER stress signaling pathways

in hepatocytes that contribute to the metabolic disturbances of obesity and diabetes.

His most recent research on hepatocyte signaling has revealed novel drug targets for

type 2 diabetes.

He has lectured worldwide and published over 200 original research

articles and reviews. These papers have been published in Cell, Nature, Science,

Nature Cell Biology, Nature Reviews Immunology, Cell Metabolism, Journal

of Clinical Investigation, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and other

top journals.

Dr. Tabas also serves on the Board of Reviewing Editors for the journal Science.

He was elected to both the Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of

American Physicians. Dr. Tabas' other honors include the American Heart Association

Established Investigator Award, the Columbia University Doctor Harold and Golden

Lamport Research Award, the American Heart Association/ATVB Council Special

Recognition Award, the 2011 Alumni Achievement Award from Washington University

School of Medicine, and the 2014 Society of Leukocyte Biology Bonazinga award,

which is the society's highest honor for excellence in leukocyte biology research.

Lale Ozcan is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at Columbia

University Medical Center and her work focuses on exploring novel signaling pathways

that control metabolic homeostasis. Lale joined the laboratory of Dr. Ira Tabas at

Columbia University in 2008 where she studied the detailed signaling pathways and

mechanisms underlying excessive glucose production and altered insulin signaling in

obesity. In addition to exploring signaling pathways, her work in Tabas lab also

uncovered new therapeutic opportunities in the context of insulin resistance.

Lale received her medical degree from Istanbul University Cerrahpasa School of

Medicine and did a postdoctoral work at Harvard University focusing on mechanisms

linking metabolic stress with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.