From Leptin to Life-Changing Therapies
The discovery of a single hormone unveiled the biological basis of obesity, transforming our understanding of human physiology and showcasing the power of genetics to rewrite medical science.
For decades, obesity was widely viewed as a failure of willpower. The discovery of a single hormone, leptin, shattered that misconception, revealing a complex biological system that regulates our appetite and weight. This breakthrough, which earned Dr. Jeffrey M. Friedman the 2025 Albany Medical Center Prize in Medicine and Biomedical Research, established a new biological framework for understanding obesity and opened the door to a new era of molecular exploration 1 5 .
One of the largest awards in American medicine
Transformative discoveries in molecular science
Research that demonstrably improves health
Dr. Jeffrey M. Friedman's journey to the discovery began with a simple yet powerful observation in a mouse model of obesity. He found that these mice had a mutated gene that prevented them from producing a specific peptide hormone, which he named leptin (from the Greek "leptos," meaning thin) 1 5 .
Year leptin was discovered
Scientific papers on leptin
Countries with leptin research
The MIT team initially believed that microcompartments would disappear during cell division 2 .
Using Region-Capture Micro-C (RC-MC) with 100-1000x greater resolution than standard methods 2 .
Microcompartments persisted and strengthened during mitosis 2 .
These structures may act as cellular memory, maintaining cell identity after division 2 .
Visualization: Genomic structure changes during cell division
The diagram shows how microcompartments (tiny loops) persist while larger structures like TADs disappear during mitosis.
| The Fate of Genomic Structures During Mitosis | ||
|---|---|---|
| Genomic Structure | Traditional Belief (Pre-2025) | Discovery from MIT Study |
| A/B Compartments | Disappear completely | Disappear completely |
| Topologically Associating Domains (TADs) | Disappear completely | Disappear completely |
| Microcompartments (tiny loops) | Believed to disappear | Persist and even strengthen |
Modern genetics research relies on a sophisticated toolkit to probe, edit, and understand the genome.
Carry genes and guide RNAs for CRISPR editing.
Used to create knockout mice models or knock out genes in cell lines to study their function (e.g., the obese mouse model) 4 .
Acts as "molecular scissors" to precisely cut DNA at targeted locations.
The basis for novel therapies, such as the approved treatment for sickle cell disease, and for creating research models 6 .
Genetically defined cells that can be grown in the lab.
Used to study disease mechanisms in a controlled environment; specialized lines like stem cells can be differentiated into various tissues 8 .
Proteins that bind to specific target molecules (antigens).
Used in immunoassays to detect and quantify proteins (e.g., measuring huntingtin protein in Huntington's disease research) 8 .
The awarding of the Albany Prize to Jeffrey Friedman is a celebration of a paradigm shift. His discovery of leptin moved the conversation about obesity from blame to biology, demonstrating the power of genetics to reveal the underlying mechanisms of human health and disease 1 5 .
Revealing the biological basis of disease
Developing precise treatments for genetic conditions
Transforming patient care through genetic insights
This spirit of discovery continues at an accelerating pace. From the surprising persistence of our genome's 3D structure during cell division to the revolutionary development of CRISPR-based therapies for once-untreatable genetic diseases, the field of genetics is in a golden age 2 6 . As new tools and technologies emerge, they promise not only to deepen our understanding of life's fundamental processes but also to deliver a new wave of personalized, life-changing medicines.