Dr. Rudolph Leibel is a Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine, head of the Division of Molecular Genetics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Deputy Director of the New York Obesity Research Center. Dr. Leibel’s research at the Center is focused on the molecular physiology of the regulation of body weight in rodents and humans, and on the genetics and molecular genetics of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. A graduate of Colgate University, Dr. Leibel received an M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He is also a member of the Institute of the National Academy of Sciences.