Jeff Friedman, MD, PhD, is a member of Bay City Capital’s Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Friedman is the Marilyn M. Simpson Professor and head of the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics at Rockefeller University. His discovery of the hormone leptin and its role in regulating body weight has had a major role in the area of human obesity. Dr. Friedman is a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He has received a number of awards including the Gairdner Foundation International Award, the Passano Foundation Award, the Banting Lecture Award, and the Bristol-Myers Squibb Award for Distinguished Achievement in Metabolic Research. After completing two residencies at Albany Medical Center Hospital, Dr. Friedman began his career at Rockefeller as a postgraduate fellow and associate physician. He received a PhD under the tutelage of Professor James Darnell, Jr., MD, and was appointed assistant professor. Dr. Friedman was then promoted to associate professor and named head of the laboratory of molecular genetics at Rockefeller. He was then promoted to professor and subsequently appointed as the Marilyn M. Simpson Professor. Dr. Friedman graduated from Renssalaer Polytechnic Institute magna cum laude and received his medical degree from Albany Medical College of Union University.