Dr. Charles Brenner, PhD
Research Summary
Brenner is an expert in metabolism who discovered the nicotinamide riboside kinase pathway to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), the central catalyst of metabolism. His lab subsequently developed quantitative targeted analysis of the NAD system, which revealed many diseases and conditions of metabolic stress in that disturb levels of NAD coenzymes. Brenner's work enabled development of both the NAD-boosting industry, which is now supported by more than 80 registered clinical trials, and NAD-targeted cancer treatments, which are now an area of active pharmaceutical development. Since his recruitment to City of Hope, Brenner has undertaken research on development of fatty liver, a precursor lesion to both type 2 diabetes and hepatocellular carcinoma.