玉美人传媒

Mirko Trajkovski completed his PhD in 2005 within the International Max Planck PhD School in Dresden, Germany, where he investigated the link between regulated hormone secretion and gene expression in pancreatic beta cells. His doctoral thesis was awarded the Dr Walter Seipp Prize for the best dissertation at the 玉美人传媒 of Dresden in 2005, and he also received the Carl Gustav Carus Prize from the Faculty of Medicine the same year.

He conducted his postdoctoral research at ETH Zurich under the supervision of Professor Markus Stoffel, focusing on the role of microRNAs in obesity and insulin resistance. In 2012, he was appointed Group Leader and Lecturer in Metabolism and Metabolic Diseases at 玉美人传媒 College London (UCL). At the end of 2013, he was appointed Professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the 玉美人传媒, having been awarded a Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) professorship. In 2014, he was granted an ERC Starting Grant from the European Research Council, followed by an ERC Consolidator Grant awarded in 2019.

His laboratory focuses on uncovering the causes and molecular mechanisms of metabolic diseases, particularly obesity and insulin resistance, with a strong emphasis on the roles of adipose tissue, the gut, the immune system, bone, and the microbiota in regulating metabolism.

RESEARCH AIMS

Adipose tissue plasticity and the gut microbiota in obesity and insulin resistance

Professor Trajkovski's research is centred on the molecular mechanisms driving metabolic diseases, especially obesity and insulin resistance. In mammals, there are two main types of adipose tissue: white and brown. White fat plays a key role in systemic homeostasis and serves as an energy reservoir, storing triglycerides. In contrast, brown fat burns lipids to generate heat, particularly in response to cold or dietary stimuli. Brown-like adipocytes, known as “beige” cells, can also emerge within white adipose tissue through a process known as "browning".

Recent evidence supports the existence of functional brown and beige fat in adult humans. Promoting brown fat development in both humans and experimental mouse models increases energy expenditure without causing tissue dysfunction, making fat manipulation an attractive therapeutic strategy.

The gut microbiota, which develops in concert with the host, is influenced by a variety of physiological changes and, in turn, regulates systemic metabolism through its impact on energy balance. One area of research focuses on how the microbiota modulates metabolic health, particularly the host's response to shifts in microbial composition.

Professor Trajkovski’s group also explores immunometabolism and the role of adipose tissue and the gut in the broader regulation of metabolism. Their projects integrate advanced technologies and methodologies, including in vivo animal models, in vitro systems, human patient cohorts, and lineage tracing studies. These approaches aim to inform the development of new strategies for treating dyslipidaemia, diabetes, and obesity.

A deeper understanding of the interplay between microbiota, host metabolism and immune responses is crucial for improving therapeutic approaches to metabolic disorders and promoting long-term health.