Stephen R. Farmer

My research during the last several years has focused on defining the transcriptional events regulating white, beige and brown adipocyte formation and function. My contributions have included a detailed dissection of mechanisms regulating the early phases of adipogenesis, the induction of brown like adipocytes (brite/beige cells) in white adipose depots and identification of novel targets for development of anti-obesity therapeutics. A major focus has been devoted to understanding mechanisms regulating the fate of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) including the role of specific transcriptional programs most notably, PPARg and MRTFA. In the case of the latter, we showed it is a negative regulator of recruitment of MSC progenitors to the adipocyte lineage, but a positive regulator of obesity-induced adipose fibrosis. In recent studies, we have characterized the cellular complexity of the stromal vascular compartment as well as adipocytes of subcutaneous and visceral adipose depots through analysis of single cell RNA (scRNAseq) and single nuclei RNA (snRNAseq) data sets. Very recently, I have become interested in understanding how mural cells of the adipose microvasculature transform into adipocyte progenitors that are recruited during formation of beige adipocytes in response to adrenergic signaling.

Positions:
2018-2022: Director – Adipose Tissue Biology and Nutrient Metabolism Core, BNORC.
2016: Co-organizer of the NIH/NIDDK meeting – The Adipose Tissue Niche:Role in Health and Disease.
2015-present: Ad Hoc member of MCE, CADO and IPOD Study Sections
2011-2014: Member Program Committee for the 2014 International Congress of Obesity Meeting.
2007-2010: Editorial Board of Molecular Endocrinology
2009-2013: Member of CADO Study Section
2006-2009: Ad Hoc Member of CADO Study Section
2005: Member International Advisory Board for 3rd International Symposium on PPARs Efficacy and Safety
2005-2010: Member Editorial Board of Journal of Biological Chemistry
2004-present: Member American Diabetes Association
2003-2005: Member Organizing Program Committee for NAASO Meeting 2004 and 2005.
2004: Chair, Keystone Symposium on Molecular Control of Adipogenesis and Obesity
2003-present: Editorial Board of Obesity.
2004-2005: Ad Hoc Member of CADO Study Section.
2003: Ad Hoc Member of Metabolism Study Section
2003: Member Advisory Board for 2nd International Symposium on PPARs Efficacy and Safety
2003: Chair, International Agency for the Study of Obesity (IASO) Stock Conference, Lisbon, Portugal
1999: Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Biological Structure and Gene Expression.
1997: Co-Chair, Gordon Research Conference on Biological Structure and Gene Expression.
1993-present: Professor of Biochemistry, Boston Univ. Sch. Med.
1984-1993: Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Boston Univ. Sch. Med.
1980-1984: Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Boston Univ. Sch. Med.
1979-1980: Research Associate, MIT, Cambridge, MA. (advisor Phillip Sharp)
1977-1979: Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT, Cambridge, MA. (advisor Sheldon Penman)