Ormond A. MacDougald, Ph.D., Principal Investigator

Ormond MacDougald was recruited to UM in 1996 as an Assistant Professor of Physiology. He is currently the John A Faulkner Chair of Physiology and Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, and Internal Medicine. Ormond’s interests include all aspects of adipose tissue biology, and training the next generation of scientists. Outside work he mainly spends time with his wife and four children but he also likes to woodwork, garden, and make music.

Ormond's curriculum vitae

macdouga@med.umich.edu

Yang Chen, B.S., Lab Manager

Yang joined the MacDougald lab in September 2024, after receiving his M.S. in pharmacology from the University of Michigan. Yang's interests in the lab include uncovering the mechanisms underlying the FPLD2 phenotype caused by point mutations in lamin A/C using mouse models. Outside of the lab, Yang enjoys traveling, watching sports games (soccer and basketball), snowboarding, and playing video games.

lionelch@umich.edu

Hiroyuki Mori, Research Investigator

My scientific career has focused on negative regulators of pathways relevant to diabetes and obesity. I have studied physiological and pathological role of each regulatory molecule, using cell and animal models. I graduated from Akita University School of Medicine in Japan and worked as a physician in the field of diabetes and metabolic diseases. I then pursued a graduate research degree and received my Ph.D. from Kyushu University in Japan. My thesis work focused on suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS), where we discovered that SOCS3 inhibits IL-6 signaling and regulates leptin receptor signaling in vivo. Subsequently, I was a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Kun-Liang Guan’s laboratory at the University of Michigan, where I studied mTORC1’s role in a variety of cells and tissues, especially the hypothalamus and pancreatic beta cells. Then, I moved to the laboratory of Dr. Ormond MacDougald, where I studied the role of secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (Sfrp5), a negative regulator of WNT, in adipocyte biology using cultured adipocytes and a transgenic mouse model. I am studying the role of WNT11 in obesity-induced adipose tissue hypoxia, and also exploring the role of hypoxia-induced WNT11 in tumor progression.

morimori@umich.edu

Liping Zhang, Ph.D., Research Lab Specialist

Liping joined the MacLab in July 2025. She earned her MD in dental clinical science from Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China, and completed her postdoctoral training in the Department of General Surgery at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on crosstalk between organs in obesity, energy balance and lipid metabolism. Within the MacLab, she is excited to expand her expertise in adipose tissue development, lipodystrophy, and metabolism. Outside of work, Liping enjoys jogging and hiking with her two bernedoodles and family. She also enjoys running and riding outside. She has completed several half marathons and plans to attempt a full marathon.

zhanglp@umich.edu

Hadla Hariri, Postdoctoral Fellow

Hadla joined the MacDougald lab in November 2022, after receiving her Ph.D. in Genetics from McGill University in Canada. Her previous work focused on identifying and characterizing novel gene targets eliciting the anabolic effect of the parathyroid hormone in bone. After surviving years of freezing temperatures in Montreal, Hadla decided to switch gears and understand the mechanisms by which white adipocytes adapt to cold environmental temperatures. Outside the lab, Hadla enjoys volleyball, hiking, and board games with friends. A regular day for Hadla must include a cup of Turkish coffee, “Fairuz”, a Lebanese music icon, and a chicken shawarma sandwich with lots of garlic sauce.

hadharir@umich.edu

Jessica Maung, Graduate Student

Jess joined the MacDougald lab in May 2021, after receiving her B.S. in Biochemistry from Union College and working as a research technician at Oregon Health and Science University. Jess’s interests in the lab include understanding mechanisms of adipocyte loss in familial partial lipodystrophy 2 (FPLD2), caused by mutations in the nuclear lamina protein, lamin A/C. Outside of the lab, Jess enjoys camping, tennis, food photography, and practicing Indonesian.  

jmaung@umich.edu

Akira Nishii, Bioinformatics Specialist

Akira started in the lab as an undergraduate student studying the effect of temperature on lipid desaturation in adipocytes under the mentorship of Dr. Hiro Mori. He has now gained considerable expertise in bioinformatics, and is integral to the MacDougald lab’s handling of large datasets. Outside of work, Akira enjoys soccer, karate, and astrophotography.

anishii@umich.edu

Isabel Hermsmeyer , Graduate Student Research Assistant

Isabel joined the MacDougald lab in May 2022 as a visiting student from her home department of Anthropology where she is currently working on her PhD, as well as an MPH with the School of Public Health. Isabel's research interests include the evolution of human adiposity and the adaptive functions of adipose tissues in humans and nonhuman primates. Outside of work, Isabel enjoys live music, watching horror movies and eating Taiwanese food.

idherms@umich.edu

Brian Desrosiers , Graduate Student

Brian joined the MacLab in April 2024 after receiving his B.S. at Northeastern University and working in biotech. Brian’s interests in the lab include understanding mitochondrial dynamics in adipose tissues.

briandes@umich.edu