Track 04 of 9
Obesity Genetics & Epigenetics
Monogenic obesity, GWAS findings and precision weight medicine.
The leptin–melanocortin pathway underpins both rare monogenic obesity and emerging precision therapies. Setmelanotide (Imcivree), an MC4R agonist, is now approved for POMC, LEPR, PCSK1, and Bardet-Biedl syndrome, with expanded indications under review. The track will cover whole-exome screening pathways, polygenic risk scores stratifying lifetime obesity risk, FTO and MC4R variant biology, and epigenetic programming from in-utero exposures. Sessions will also examine pharmacogenomic predictors of GLP-1 response, the emerging role of clonal mosaicism, and ancestry-aware risk modeling.
Focus areas
- Setmelanotide in POMC, LEPR, PCSK1 and Bardet-Biedl syndrome
- Monogenic obesity: when and how to genotype
- Polygenic risk scores for early-onset and severe obesity
- FTO, MC4R and leptin–melanocortin pathway biology
- Epigenetic programming: DOHaD and transgenerational effects
- Pharmacogenomics of GLP-1 RA response variability
- Ancestry diversity in obesity GWAS and clinical translation