Central pathways controlling peripheral insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health.
We know that specific, complex networks of neurones in the brain receive signals from other tissues in the body and integrate this information to control how hungry we feel. However, some of these pathways also control insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure and how nutrients are handled in the body. We are using the latest cutting-edge methods to understand how the brain detects these signals and then controls these processes. Doing so has the potential to identify new targets for drugs that can not only supress hunger but also reduce diabetes and heart disease in obese individuals.
Professor Lora Heisler (research scientist, University of Aberdeen)
Dr. Justin Rochford (research scientist, University of Aberdeen)