James Olzmann

James Olzmann is a Professor of Molecular Therapeutics and of Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on the biology of cellular lipid homeostasis, particularly the regulation of lipid droplets and mechanisms that prevent oxidative lipid damage during ferroptosis. His lab integrates interdisciplinary strategies, including systems-level discovery methods, chemical biology tools, and cell biology approaches, to advance understanding of lipid homeostasis and develop therapeutics for diseases such as metabolic disorders, cancer, and neurodegeneration. His work includes studies on lipotoxicity, lipid droplet biogenesis, and the identification of factors that protect against lipid damage. His research has led to the discovery of novel therapeutic targets and the development of small molecule inhibitors.

James A. Olzmann, based at the University of California, Berkeley, investigates lipid droplets, lipotoxicity, ferroptosis, ubiquitin, and quality control mechanisms. His research explores the dynamics and functions of lipid droplets in cellular lipid flux and their role in disease. He examines ferroptosis, a form of iron-dependent cell death, and its implications in health and disease. His work also includes the study of ubiquitin-mediated quality control and its connection to neurodegenerative diseases. Olzmann's research integrates molecular and cellular approaches to understand how lipid metabolism and protein degradation pathways intersect in cellular homeostasis and pathology.