David Paul Olson, MD, PhD

David Olson earned his M.D. and Ph.D. at the University of Michigan (the latter in Cellular and Molecular Biology). He served his internship and residency at Children’s Hospital Boston, followed by a fellowship in pediatric endocrinology and metabolism at Children’s Hospital Boston/Joslin Diabetes Center. Prior to returning to the University of Michigan, Dr. Olson was on staff at Children's Hospital Boston and affiliated with the Department of Newborn Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. His postdoctoral research was performed at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Division of Endocrinology.

Using novel mouse models, Dr. Olson is exploring gene expression changes in specific neuronal populations in the brain that are known to be important in regulating energy balance; these studies are directed at examining the link between gene expression in specific areas of the brain and altered metabolism. Additional studies using neuron-specific genetic changes are underway to clarify the molecular basis of daily biologic rhythms and explore how disruption of these rhythms predisposes organisms (rodents and humans) to pathologic changes in metabolism.

University of Michigan Health participates with most health insurance plans.

Using novel mouse models, we are exploring the neuroanatomic and molecular pathways used by the brain to regulate metabolism and energy homeostasis. We are focused on dissecting the physiologic functions of subsets of neurons within the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, a critical brain region for body weight regulation. We take advantage of both novel mouse models and viral expression systems to manipulate neural activity and gene expression in specific neuronal populations in the brain in order to understand their role in physiology. Additional studies with collaborators at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, are using inducible, neuron-specific genetic changes to clarify the molecular basis of daily, biologic rhythms and explore how disruption of these rhythms predisposes organisms (rodents and humans) to pathologic changes in metabolism.