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).
GIP Receptor Agonism Attenuates GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Induced Nausea and Emesis in Preclinical Models
Our research uncovered that glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide receptor (GIPR) signaling blocks emesis and attenuates illness behaviors elicited by GLP-1R activation, while maintaining reduced food intake, body weight loss, and improved glucose tolerance.
GLP-1 Receptors action on brainstem GABA neurons
Examining the contribution of nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) glucagon-like peptide-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) to the anorectic potential of the FDA-approved obesity drug liraglutide and highlights a phenotypically distinct (GABAergic) population of neurons within the NTS that express the GLP-1R and are involved in the mediation of liraglutide signaling