Paul Cohen

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Researchers map how a single protein builds the calorie-burning infrastructure inside brown fat

As of May 2026: Active collaborator on SLIT3 research

Every obesity drug on the market works by suppressing appetite — making people eat less. A team led by NYU researcher Farnaz Shamsi has mapped a completely different route: the protein SLIT3. An enzyme slices SLIT3 in two, and each half independently builds the blood vessels and nerve wiring that brown fat needs to burn calories as heat. The discovery, published in Nature Communications and validated in tissue from more than 1,500 people, identifies multiple molecular targets that could be turned into drugs.

Updated May 30