Dr. Villanueva is interested in understanding how adipocytes sense and control metabolic demands in response to stressors like temperature. The ability to maintain a constant body temperature despite a changing environment can lead to remodeling of adipose tissue. This involves the differentiation of thermogenic adipocytes that are rich in mitochondria and have a unique transcriptional gene expression program. His lab will explore the molecular mechanisms that underly the cellular plasticity of adipocytes. These studies will provide opportunities for intervening in metabolic diseases that are associated with obesity and diabetes