Neurobiology of Nutrition Laboratory

News & Announcements

Dr. Andrew Shin secured Diabetes Action Foundation grant in 2024 to study "Acute effects of BCAAs on glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and the underlying mechanisms".
Fereshteh Dehghani presented her research findings "Short-term exposure to BCAAs impairs brown adipose tissue thermogenesis" at ObesityWeek in San Antonio in 2024.
Zobayda Haque received a prestigious Trainee Professional Development Award from the Society for Neuroscience (SFN). She presented her findings on "Circulating BCAAs are linked to Alzheimer's disease-related cognitive deficits" at the conference in Chicago in 2024. Congratulations!
Marjan Ramezan presented her research findings on "Sex differences in brain glucose metabolism in Alzheimer’s disease" at SFN in Chicago in 2024.
Fereshteh Dehghani presented her research findings on "Short-term exposure to BCAAs increases hedonics for sucrose" at the Society for the Study of Ingestive Behavior (SSIB) in July 2024.
Dr. Andrew Shin received a Certificate of Recognition from the Faculty Mentorship Academy in 2024.
Marjan Ramezan received Elizabeth F. Smith Scholarship from the Nutritional Sciences Department and Summer Thesis Award from the Graduate School in 2024. Congratulations!
Harsh Shah is the first author of an original research article published in Nature - Nutrition & Diabetes in 2024, “BCAAs acutely drive glucose dysregulation and insulin resistance: Role of AgRP neurons". Congratulations!
Dr. Andrew Shin published a review article in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism in 2024, "Obesity-induced tissue alterations resist weight loss: A mechanistic review".
Dr. Andrew Shin received a Cross-Disciplinary Research Excellence Award in 2024 for his proposal to study "Transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation to treat obesity" with Dr. Jingfei Liu from Mechanical Engineering.
Fereshteh Dehghani presented her poster on "Short-term exposure to BCAAs increases hedonics for sucrose" at 23rd TTU Graduate Research Poster Competition in April 2024.
Zobayda Haque presented her poster on "Circulating BCAAs are associated with cognitive decline and metabolic dysregulation in APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease" at 23rd TTU Graduate Research Poster Competition in April 2024.

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.