Ryan W Walker, PhD, MS

Ryan W. Walker, PhD, MS is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. He is also Co-Director of the New York Diabetes Research Center - Translational Research Core and Director of the Mount Sinai Morningside Human Metabolism and Physiology Lab.

Dr. Walker a clinical obesity and type 2 diabetes scientist whose research focuses on elucidating the causes of, and treatments for, obesity, type 2 diabetes and metabolic diseases such as Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). The prevalence of these diseases is astounding, and their complexity requires novel, non-traditional approaches accounting for environmental, genetic and metabolic factors. Dr. Walker has made significant contributions to our understanding of the role of genetic and environmental risk factors on MASLD in children and adults and has studied the effects of dietary excess fructose on metabolic risk for nearly 10 years. His work on true fructose content of foods and beverages was a pivotal component in the implementation of sugar sweetened beverage policy change in California.

In addition to elucidating the genetic and environmental determinants of metabolic disease, Dr. Walker is also conducting studies to better understand the role of intestinal bacteria and environmental exposures in the etiology of obesity and related diseases. The aims of this work are to 1. unravel cause vs. consequence in the relationships between diet, chemicals, microbiome and human health and 2. identify modifiers of the gut microbiome so as to establish targets for interventions to improve health outcomes and prevent disease in at-risk populations. Dr. Walker is currently leading studies to understand 1. the role of excess fructose on the human gut microbiome as a cause for enhanced cardiometabolic risk and 2. the early establishment of the infant gut microbiome and the role of intestinal bacteria in the etiology of obesity and related diseases. As a clinical scientist, Dr. Walker leverages his expertise in clinical nutrition, exercise physiology and the genetics of metabolic disorders to assemble collaborative research teams that conduct rigorous clinical studies pursuant of his overall goal: to substantially contribute to resolving the global problem of obesity and diabetes.

Relevant affiliation links:
Co-Director, Einstein-Mount Sinai Diabetes Research Center

Director, Human Metabolism and Physiology Lab

Faculty member, Center on Health and Environment Across the LifeSpan (HEALS)

Faculty member, The Mount Sinai Institute forExposomic Research

Faculty member, The Mount Sinai Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism Institute

Faculty member, Mindich Child Health and Development Institute