Dr. Lee has focused his research in the field of metabolic disease and lipid metabolism. The Lee lab was the first to demonstrate that Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor -delta (PPAR-delta) modulates the inflammatory state of macrophages, thus identifying this receptor as a potential therapeutic target to limit cardiovascular disease. Recent work in the Lee lab is addressing the interaction of the immune system and metabolism based on inter-organ signaling between the liver and skeletal muscle.