I am a clinical obesity and type 2 diabetes scientist with expertise in clinical nutrition, exercise physiology and the genetics of metabolic disorders. As demonstrated by my research support and publication record, I have extensive experience in clinical interventions. I continue to study the genetic determinants of metabolic disease, however my current work at MSSM involves better understanding the early establishment of the fetal gut microbiome and the role of intestinal bacteria in the etiology of obesity and related diseases. The aims of this work are to 1. unravel cause vs. consequence in the relationships between diet, microbiome and host health and 2. identify modifiers of the gut microbiome so as to establish targets for interventions to improve health outcomes and prevent disease