Tomas Ganz

Tomas Ganz

Nationality	American
Known for	Discovery of hepcidin

Tomas Ganz is a prominent American physician-scientist known for his groundbreaking work in the field of iron metabolism and innate immunity. He is particularly recognized for the discovery of hepcidin, a key hormone in the regulation of iron homeostasis in the human body.

Early Life and Education

Tomas Ganz was born in [birthplace] and pursued his medical education at [university]. He completed his residency in internal medicine and further specialized in pulmonary and critical care medicine. His interest in iron metabolism and innate immunity led him to a career in research and academia.

Career

Ganz is a professor of medicine and physiology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His research has significantly advanced the understanding of iron regulation in the body, particularly through the discovery and characterization of hepcidin.

Discovery of Hepcidin

Hepcidin is a peptide hormone produced by the liver that plays a crucial role in regulating iron absorption and distribution in the body. Ganz's research demonstrated that hepcidin is the principal regulator of iron homeostasis, acting to decrease intestinal iron absorption and release from macrophages. This discovery has had profound implications for the understanding and treatment of iron-related disorders such as anemia of chronic disease and hemochromatosis.

Contributions to Innate Immunity

In addition to his work on iron metabolism, Ganz has made significant contributions to the field of innate immunity. His research has explored the role of antimicrobial peptides in the immune response, providing insights into how the body defends itself against pathogens.

Also see

• Iron metabolism
• Anemia of chronic disease
• Hemochromatosis
• Antimicrobial peptides

   This article is a biographical stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!