LUMS Alumnus Muhammad Ahmad Making Breakthroughs in Obesity Research at Harvard
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Photo courtesy: Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Muhammad Ahmad (MS Biology 2020), now a PhD student at Harvard, is making remarkable contributions in the fight against obesity. His pioneering research was recently highlighted by Harvard GSAS News, recognising both its innovation and potential for impact.
Obesity remains a global health crisis, linked to serious diseases and rising healthcare costs. While certain medications have recently gained attention for their potential to aid in weight management, many were not originally developed for obesity and often come with troubling side effects. This has created an urgent need for safer, more sustainable solutions.
At Harvard’s Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Harvard Medical School (GSAS), Ahmad is addressing this challenge through his research. Using CRISPR-Cas9, a functional genomics technology that helps scientists study how genes work, he has uncovered key factors that influence how fat is stored and used in the body. His work shows that even small shifts at the molecular level can change the way metabolism functions, pointing toward new approaches that could treat obesity more directly.
Speaking about his findings, Ahmad explained in an interview with Paul Massari, Associate Director of Content Strategy and Digital Storytelling at Harvard GSAS, “We now have a very clear picture of how controlling just one lipid factor on the receptor improves its stability. We can target these particular factors to enhance the signalling. We have seen the impact on flies. If we remove these factors, the fly becomes super obese very quickly.”
These insights not only deepen scientific understanding of how the body regulates fat but also point toward safer, long-term alternatives to existing treatments. By targeting the root causes at the genetic and molecular level, his work holds the promise of transforming how obesity is treated in the future.
Ahmad's achievements reflect his vision, dedication, and passion for advancing science, while also showcasing the global relevance of the research culture nurtured at LUMS. His journey from LUMS to Harvard stands as an inspiration for young researchers aiming to address some of the world’s greatest health challenges.
Explore Ahmad’s groundbreaking work and the hope it brings by reading more here.
