Neurobiology of Nutrition Laboratory

News & Announcements

Harsh Shah was highlighted in the COHS News (9/4/20): https://www.depts.ttu.edu/hs/news/posts/2020/student/ns-graduate-student-testimonial-research-opportunities-harsh-shah.php
Ritchel B. Gannaban was selected as a Helen Hodges Scholar from Helen Hodges Educational Charitable Trust. Congratulations!
Dr. Andrew Shin secured a grant from the Diabetes Action Foundation, "Understanding BCAA regulation – a step toward deciphering diabetes".
Caitlyn Mullins is the first author of our review paper in Antioxidants, "Neural Underpinnings of Obesity: The Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in the Brain". Congratulations!

Overview

We are interested in how the brain is able to integrate nutrient-related signals from various tissues in the body to control body weight and appetite, as well as nutrient metabolism (glucose, amino acids, lipids) in the context of obesity and diabetes. Related to this, we also study how Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), a type of bariatric surgery considered to be one of the most effective treatments for obesity/diabetes, successfully lowers body weight and improves metabolic outcomes. How RYGB surgery rewires both "homeostatic" and "hedonic/reward" systems to defend the new lower body weight is a very interesting topic. We are also interested in parsing out the relationship between diabetes and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and in identifying novel biomarkers and treatments for AD.