Prof. Arya M. Sharma to accept Chair at Canadian University
Prof. Sharma has been investigating the development of obesity and its related diseases, hypertension and type 2 diabetes for the last ten years. These disorders damage blood vessels, the heart and kidneys. As a result, obese individuals often develop heart diseases, stroke, or kidney problems. The most effective way to reduce these severe health risks is to lose weight. However, most patients fail to achieve long-term weight loss. In recent years scientists and physicians have gained new insights into the importance of genetic factors for the development of obesity and the complexity with which the body regulates and defends its body weight. Also, the drugs often used to manage hypertension and diabetes may make it even more difficult for patients to lose weight. New findings now also show that fat cells produce a variety of molecules that can affect blood pressure and the metabolic function. Physicians hope, that these new findings will lead to new preventive strategies and new drugs to effectively treat obesity and related diseases.
Arya Sharma was born in Berlin in 1959. He moved to India in 1965. After finishing High School in New Delhi he returned to Germany to study medicine at Free University Berlin. He graduated in 1986 and finished his doctorate in 1987. At the age of 35 he became a professor at the clinic Benjamin Franklin of the Free University. He accepted a professorship at the Franz Volhard Clinic in May 2000. At the same time he became leader of a research group at the MDC, a national research centre of the Helmholtz Association. The MDC closely collaborates with the Charité clinics. He organised the “2nd International Symposium on Obesity and Hypertension” in Berlin-Buch and will coordinate the 3rd International Symposium on Obesity and Hypertension at the MDC in October 2003.
Barbara Bachtler
Press and Public Affairs
Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC)
Berlin-Buch
Robert-Rössle-Straße 10; 13125 Berlin; Germany
Phone: +49 (0) 30 94 06 — 38 96
Fax: +49 (0) 30 94 06 — 38 33
e‑mail: presse@mdc-berlin.de
