Overview
James Lo is a physician-scientist, specializing in cardiovascular medicine and directing a basic research lab. The primary focus of the lab is to understand the fundamental molecular mechanisms of cardiometabolic diseases with the ultimate goal of developing novel treatments directed against them.
The Lo Laboratory is investigating the determinants of metabolic health using state-of-the-art molecular approaches. There are a number of different active projects available including some centered on mechanisms of cardiovascular disease, adipose biology and pancreatic islet function.
Visit our lab website!
https://www.jameslolab.org/
Selected Publications:
Rubio-Navarro A, Gómez-Banoy N, Stoll L, Dündar F, Mawla AM, Ma L, Cortada E, Zumbo P, Li A, Reiterer M, Montoya-Oviedo N, Homan EA, Imai N, Gilani A, Liu C, Naji A, Yang B, Chong ACN, Cohen DE, Chen S, Cao J, Pitt GS, Huising MO, Betel D, Lo JC. (2023). A beta cell subset with enhanced insulin secretion and glucose metabolism is reduced in type 2 diabetes. Nature Cell Biology 25(4): 565-578.
Wang G, Li J, Bojmar L, Chen H, Li Z, Tobias GC, Hu M, Homan EA, Lucotti S, Zhao F, Posada V, Oxley PR, Cioffi M, Kim HS, Wang H, Lauritzen P, Boudreau N, Shi Z, Burd CE, Zippin JH, Lo JC, Pitt GS, Hernandez J, Zambirinis CP, Hollingsworth MA, Grandgenett PM, Jain M, Batra SK, DiMaio DJ, Grem JL, Klute KA, Trippett TM, Egeblad M, Paul D, Bromberg J, Kelsen D, Rajasekhar VK, Healey JH, Matei IR, Jarnagin WR, Schwartz RE, Zhang H, Lyden D. (2023). Tumor extracellular vesicles and particles dysregulate liver metabolism. Nature 618: 374-382.
Stoll L, Lo JC. (2023). GLP-1 Receptor Agonists, the Holy Grail Preventing Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With T2D? JACC Basic Translational Science 8: 937-38.
Reiterer M, Rajan M, Gómez-Banoy N, Lau JD, Gomez-Escobar LG, Ma L, Gilani A, Alvarez-Mulett S, Sholle ET, Chandar V, Bram Y, Hoffman K, Bhardwaj P, Piloco P, Rubio-Navarro A, Uhl S, Carrau L, Houhgton S, Redmond D, Shukla AP, Goyal P, Brown KA, tenOever BR, Alonso LC, Schwartz RE, Schenck EJ, Safford MM, Lo JC. (2021). Hyperglycemia in acute COVID-19 is characterized by insulin resistance and adipose tissue infectivity by SARS-CoV-2. Cell Metabolism 33: 2174-2188.
Highlights
- 1Cell metabolism · 2021
- 2Nature cell biology · 2023
- 3
Publications
Funding
Active
8 grants- Co-IR01DK143009-01The Role of NAD+ Metabolism in Obesity-Induced Pancreatic Beta-Cell DysfunctionNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2025–2030
- PIR01DK121140-05A1Dusp26 regulation of beta cell homeostasisNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2020–2029· 3 renewals
- PIR01HL177651-02Mechanisms of Obesity-induced Atrial FibrillationNational Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute · 2025–2028
- MPIR01DK132879-04Assessing the Impact of SARS-CoV-2 on Adipose Tissue Function and Glucose HomeostasisNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2023–2028· 2 renewals
- KPHRS 255885-01Role of IFNAR1 Signaling in Obesity-Induced Atrial FibrillationHeart Rhythm Society, Inc. · 2026–2027
- PI26BTPA1622818Cardioprotective Role of Brown Fat in Atrial FibrillationAmerican Heart Association · 2026–2027
- KP24CDA1268270Mechanisms of obesity-driven Atrial FibrillationAmerican Heart Association · 2024–2027
- KP23TPA1077772Dissecting functions of epicardial transferrin in zebrafish heart regenerationAmerican Heart Association · 2023–2026
Completed grants (11)
- KP9-22-PDFPM-01Targeting Fam20c, an obesity-induced kinase, for precision therapeutics of type 2 diabetesAmerican Diabetes Association · 2022–2025
- PIAHA 970240-03Dissecting the Cellular and Molecular Links Between Atrial Fibrillation and ObesityAmerican Heart Association · 2022–2025
- PIR01DK121844-05An Obesity-Induced Kinase that Regulates Adipose Homeostasis and Metabolic DiseasesNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2019–2025
- PI23DIVSUP1074485Mechanism of obesity-induced atrial fibrillation and boosting brown fat as a therapy (LIMA, RENAN)American Heart Association · 2023–2025
- PIAddgene 698898Addgene 698898Addgene, Inc. · 2022–2023
- MPIP30DK063608-16Columbia Diabetes Research CenterNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2017–2023 · via Columbia University Medical Center_· 2 renewals
- MPINYAM 212921-02Cardioprotective mechanisms of caloric restriction in mice with ischemic heart failureNew York Academy of Medicine · 2021–2022
- PIFMF 193353Targeting a Transcriptional Pathway to Improve Fat Cell Health and Treat DiabetesFeldstein Medical Foundation, Inc. · 2019–2020
- PIR03DK111762-02Regulation of Pancreatic Islet Homeostasis by the Adipsin PathwayNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2017–2020
- PIGSI 17010053-02Regulation of Cardiometabolic Diseases by an Obesity-Induced KinaseGilead Sciences, Inc. · 2017–2019
- PIK08DK097303-05 EWOFRegulation of Adipose Inflammation and Metabolic Syndrome by Adipsin/Factor DNational Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases · 2015–2017Career
Honors & distinctions
- Member · American Society for Clinical Investigation · 2023
News mentions
- Scientists Identify a Trigger for Obesity-Linked InflammationNovember 10, 2025
Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have identified an early step in a cellular process that leads to inflammation in fat cells and may result in type 2 diabetes in people with obesity.
- Dr. Lisa Roth and Dr. James Lo Elected to the American Society for Clinical InvestigationMay 10, 2023
Dr. James C. Lo, an associate professor of medicine and Dr. Lisa G. Roth, an associate professor of pediatrics, both from Weill Cornell Medicine, were elected members of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) for 2023.
- Losing Key Type of Pancreatic Cell May Contribute to DiabetesMarch 16, 2023
Multiple types of beta cells produce insulin in the pancreas, helping to balance blood sugar levels. Losing a particularly productive type of beta cell may contribute to the development of diabetes.
- Weill Cornell Medicine Investigators Receive Awards from Chan Zuckerberg InitiativeNovember 6, 2020
Five Weill Cornell Medicine investigators have received funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) for their research in inflammation and neurodegenerative disorders.
- Researchers Find New Potential Approach to Type 2 Diabetes TreatmentNovember 7, 2019
The protein adipsin, which is produced in body fat, helps protect insulin-secreting cells called pancreatic beta cells from destruction in type 2 diabetes, according to a new study by researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian.
Mentoring
Postdoc · 8
- ECEric Cortada AlmarPostdoc mentee · 2020–2024
- ARAlfonso Rubio-NavarroPostdoc mentee · 2021–2022
- MRMoritz ReitererPostdoc mentee · 2020–2022
External relationships
Professional Services
National Institutes of Health · United States Department of Defense