David Carling

About me

Experience:

2004 -

Present

Professor of Biochemistry (Imperial College London)

1998 -

Present

Programme Leader (MRC LMS)

1992 -

1998

Programme Leader Track (MRC LMS)

1989 -

1992

MRC Training Fellowship (MRC Clinical Research Centre, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow)

1988 -

PhD Biochemistry MRC Protein Phosphorylation Unit (University of Dundee, UK)

1987 -

1989

BHF Postdoctoral Fellow (University of Dundee, UK)

1984 -

BSc Biochemistry (University of Bristol, UK)

Research focus:

My group studies how changes in the body’s metabolism affect health and disease. We focus on the role of an enzyme, called AMP-activated protein kinase, that has a key function in regulating metabolism. Dysregulation of energy metabolism occurs in a wide range of human diseases, including obesity and cancer, and we are particularly interested in determining the efficacy of AMPK activation for the treatment of these diseases.

Joined LMS:

1992

About me:

I feel incredibly lucky to have joined the LMS when it first opened. The Institute provides an exceptional environment in which to carry out biomedical research. Working at the LMS provides access to state-of-the-art equipment and resources, embedded in one of the world’s leading medical campuses, housing a wealth of outstanding scientists.

My awards and achievements:

Sir Philip Randle Lecture (2015)

Impact of my work:

Our work provides fundamental information on how targeting AMP-activated protein kinase alters metabolism, and whether this can be beneficial in treating or preventing metabolic diseases. This knowledge is essential for the development of new and improved strategies for combatting these diseases.

My Research

Cellular stress

The Cellular Stress Group was formed in 1992, and the team led by David Carling aims to understand the physiological role of the AMP-activated protein kinase cascade in metabolism.

VIEW MY RESEARCH GROUP

Selected publications

Widjaja, A. A., Lim, W., Viswanathan, S., Chothani, S., Corden, B., Dasan, C. M., Goh, J. W. T., Lim, R., Singh, B. K., Tan, J., Pua, C. J., Lim, S. Y., Adami, E., Schafer, S., George, B. L., Sweeney, M., Xie, C., Tripathi, M., Sims, N. A., Hübner, N., Petretto, E., Withers, D. J., Ho, L., Gil, J., Carling, D., Cook, S. A. (2024). Inhibition of IL-11 signalling extends mammalian healthspan and lifespan. Nature, 632(8023), 157–165. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07701-9

Penfold, L., Woods, A., Pollard, A.E., Arizanova, J., Pascual-Navarro, E., Muckett, P.J., Dore, M.H., Montoya, A., Whilding, C., Fets, L., Mokochinski, J., Constantin, T.A., Varela-Carver, A., Leach, D.A., Bevan, C.L., Nikitin, A.Y., Hall, Z., Carling, D. (2023). AMPK activation protects against prostate cancer by inducing a catabolic cellular state. Cell Reports, 42 (4), art. no. 112396.

Hope, D.C.D., Hinds, C.E., Lopes, T., Vincent, M.L., Shrewsbury, J.V., Yu, A.T.C., Davies, I., Scott, R., Jones, B., Murphy, K.G., Minnion, J.S., Sardini, A., Carling, D., Lutz, T.A., Bloom, S.R., Tan, T.M.M., Owen, B.M. Hypoaminoacidemia underpins glucagon-mediated energy expenditure and weight loss. (2022). Cell Reports Medicine, 3 (11), art. no. 100810.

Widjaja, A.A., Viswanathan, S., Wei Ting, J.G., Tan, J., Shekeran, S.G., Carling, D., Lim, W.-W., Cook, S.A. IL11 stimulates ERK/P90RSK to inhibit LKB1/AMPK and activate mTOR initiating a mesenchymal program in stromal, epithelial, and cancer cells. (2022). iScience, 25 (8), art. no. 104806.

Wilson, L., Pollard, A.E., Penfold, L., Muckett, P.J., Whilding, C., Bohlooly, M.Y., Wilson, P., Carling, D. (2021). Chronic activation of AMP-activated protein kinase leads to early-onset polycystic kidney phenotype. Clinical Science, 135 (20), pp. 2393-2408.

Pollard AE, Martins L, Muckett PJ, Khadayate S, Bornot A, Clausen M, Admyre T, Bjursell M, Fiadeiro R, Wilson L, Whilding C, Kotiadis VN, Duchen MR, Sutton D, Penfold L, Sardini A, Bohlooly-Y M, Smith DM, Read JA, Snowden MA, Woods A and Carling D. (2019). AMPK activation protects against diet induced obesity through Ucp1-independent thermogenesis in subcutaneous white adipose tissue. Nature Metabolism, 1, 340-349.

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David Carling

About me

2004 -

Present

1998 -

Present

1992 -

1998

1989 -

1992

1988 -

1987 -

1989

1984 -

My Research

Cellular stress

Selected publications

News about my work