Brain circuit that helps control hunger and food reward
Official title: Cerebellar-striatal circuits for control of dopamine activity and food intake
Funded at Scintillon Institute for Photobiology · NIH-11331265 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether specific brain pathways between the cerebellum and striatum change dopamine signals to reduce overeating, which could help people with appetite or weight problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Scintillon Institute for Photobiology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project start | April 16, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $686,052 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134857-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11331265 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This is preclinical laboratory research that does not enroll patients, though the results would be most relevant to people with appetite disorders or obesity interested in future therapies.
✕Less likely to help
People seeking immediate treatment or those without appetite- or weight-related conditions are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this mouse-based research.
What this research studies
The team maps and tests a group of neurons in the mouse cerebellum that become active during eating and connect to the striatum. They use genetic tools, brain recordings, and behavioral experiments in animals to see how turning these neurons on or off changes dopamine signals and meal size. Researchers will also profile the molecular makeup of these neurons and examine how that profile shifts in obesity. The goal is to understand how these circuits affect the reward and motivation to eat.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new brain targets to curb excessive eating and guide future treatments for appetite disorders and obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies by the team showed that activating these cerebellar neurons in mice reduced meal size and dopamine responses, but translating these findings to humans remains untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Scintillon Institute for Photobiology
San Diego, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Albert — Scintillon Institute for Photobiology
- Study coordinator: Chen, Albert
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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.