Brain cells that control appetite and nausea
Defining roles for area postrema neuron cell types in food intake and nausea
This work looks at specific brain cell types that drive eating and nausea to help people with obesity and related diabetes risks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Michigan at Ann Arbor NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Ann Arbor, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11261629 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will map distinct neuron types in the area postrema, a brain region that senses nutrients and toxins. They will profile which genes each cell type expresses and test how those cells respond to appetite-related hormones such as amylin, GLP-1, and GDF15. Laboratory experiments will determine which neurons promote non-aversive fullness versus which drive aversive loss of appetite and nausea. The goal is to identify targets that could allow weight-loss treatments without the limiting side effect of nausea.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with obesity or type 2 diabetes, especially those who experience nausea from current weight-loss medications, are the likely long-term beneficiaries of this research.
Not a fit: People without excess weight or those seeking an immediate treatment today are unlikely to benefit directly from this preclinical research in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new weight-loss therapies that reduce appetite without causing nausea, improving treatment options for people with obesity and type 2 diabetes.
How similar studies have performed: Related drugs like GLP-1 and amylin analogs have produced meaningful weight loss but often cause nausea, while detailed cell-type mapping in the area postrema is a newer approach with limited prior clinical translation.
Where this research is happening
Ann Arbor, United States
- University of Michigan at Ann Arbor — Ann Arbor, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Myers, Martin G — University of Michigan at Ann Arbor
- Study coordinator: Myers, Martin G
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.