Neuroendocrine Control of Energy Balance
Our laboratory’s overarching goal seeks to understand the neuroendocrine systems regulating energy balance and motivated behaviors. Using multiple approaches from the cell to the whole organism and extensively examine the role of various neuroendocrine signaling systems (e.g., GLP-1, leptin, amylin, CCK, serotonin, glutamate, and dopamine) in peripheral and central control of food intake and body weight regulation.
Overall, our research program takes a novel systems-neuroscience approach aimed at enhancing the development of realistic pharmacological-based therapeutics to treat obesity and associated comorbidities (e.g. obesity, eating disorders, diabetes, drug addiction and nausea / malaise).
Metabolic hormone action in the VTA: Reward-directed behavior and mechanistic insights
This review provides a comprehensive update of the regulation of midbrain dopamine circuits by peripheral feeding hormones, cataloging what is currently known about the mechanisms by which these hormones influence VTA activity and how these actions regulate food intake and behavior around drugs of abuse. Better understanding of the reward-modulating effects of these hormone systems will help develop more effective treatments for obesity and addictive disorders.