His laboratory studies mitochondrial function and fatty acid oxidation (FAO), the pathway by which fatty acids are broken down for energy. Mutations in the FAO genes are among the most prevalent inborn errors of metabolism. Recently, it was discovered that most if not all FAO enzymes are subject to post-translational modification including lysine acetylation and lysine succinylation. There are three mitochondrial sirtuin deacylases (SIRT3, SIRT4, SIRT5), which are believed to reverse these modifications. The lab's current research focuses on the functional effects of lysine acetylation and succinylation on the FAO pathway and the role the sirtuins play in regulating metabolism. Other lab interests include the role of fatty acid metabolism during kidney injury and in liver cancers.