Kei Sakamoto
Professor
Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen
Biography
Kei Sakamoto is a leading molecular physiologist exploring how cells regulate energy use and respond to stress. His research focuses on the enzyme AMPK, a central energy sensor in the body, and how it influences insulin sensitivity, mitochondrial health, and glucose uptake—especially in skeletal muscle, liver, and fat tissue. By combining molecular biology with whole-body physiology, Sakamoto’s work sheds light on how exercise, diet, and disease affect metabolism. His discoveries help explain why some people develop insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, and they point to new ways of treating metabolic disorders. At the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, he leads a team investigating how cells adapt to changes in energy demand, aiming to develop new strategies for improving metabolic health.
