History

History

The Hotamışlıgil Lab, established in 1994 under the leadership of Dr. Gökhan Hotamışlıgil, is dedicated to groundbreaking research in genetics, nutrition, and metabolism. Our mission focuses on generating new knowledge, training future scientific leaders, and transforming basic scientific discoveries into innovative treatments for common diseases. The lab has thrived in the vibrant intellectual community of Harvard University. Between 2014 and 2024, the Hotamışlıgil Lab operated as the Sabri Ülker Center for Nutrient, Genetic, and Metabolic Research through the generosity of Mr. Murat Ülker and the Ülker family, which played a significant role in supporting our work. As a lab, we contribute to the intellectually rich environment of a leading School of Public Health within one of the world’s foremost research universities and benefit from our position at the epicenter of biotechnology, medical research, practice, learning and teaching, innovation and leadership in Boston, Massachusetts. We remain committed to excellence and discovery as we advance our research to pursue translational path with the ultimate goal of positively impacting human health and generating solutions for the greatest threats to global human health.
Hotamisligil Lab Group photo

The Metabolism & Life Symposium | Science Award

The biennial “Metabolism and Life” Symposium organized by the Sabri Ülker Center, Hotamışlıgil Lab and hosted by the Sabri Ülker Foundation, brings together a spectacular array of global experts exploring broad aspects of metabolism. Since its inception in 2016, the Symposium has created an unparalleled opportunity for attendees to network, engage, and learn about the science from various related sub-fields. Metabolism encompasses all the reactions that generate and use energy and is the most fundamental process of life, starting from the synthesis of the very first macromolecule. At the cellular and organismal levels, metabolic flux and balance are requisite to move, replicate, repair damage, and sustain life, and indeed disruptions to this delicate balance are a major contributor to disease and aging. Thus, in some sense metabolism is life. Our 2023 Symposium held in Istanbul, Turkey was a great success! We are most grateful to all our speakers and attendees who made this year’s event possible.
Symposium

Announcement of Gift
$24 Million Gift to Harvard School of Public Health to Establish Center for Nutrient, Genetic, and Metabolic Research
Ulker Award given to Gokhan Hotamisligil

About Sabri Ülker
The Ülker family established the Sabri Ülker Food Research Foundation in 2009 to support scientific contributions in food, nutrition, and health.
Sabri Ulker

Our First Sabri Ülker Fellows
In 2015, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health welcomed two Ülker Center Fellows: Dr. Güneş Parlakgül and Dr. Ekin Güney.
Ülker fellows

Annual Reports
The Center’s Annual Reports highlight the work that has been done by the scientists and exciting developments.

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