How early overfeeding changes hunger signals in the brain
Official title: Impact of early overnutrition on leptin signaling in hypothalamic neuropeptide Y neurons
Funded at University of Wyoming · NIH-11163396 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will see how extra nutrition in early life alters leptin (a hunger hormone) signaling in brain cells that control appetite, which could matter for people at risk of adult-onset diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wyoming NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Laramie, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2017 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $212,404 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM121310-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163396 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who were overfed or overweight in infancy, or who are currently obese or at high risk for type 2 diabetes, would be the most relevant group to benefit from these findings.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with health issues unrelated to metabolism, appetite, or early-life nutrition are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will use laboratory models to mimic chronic overfeeding after birth and study specific hunger neurons (NPY cells) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus. They will record neuron activity using brain slice electrophysiology and examine how signals change across the day and with leptin exposure. The team will look for leptin resistance and altered synaptic inputs that could explain long-term changes in appetite and metabolism. Findings aim to link early-life nutrition to later risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal brain mechanisms set by early overnutrition that lead to obesity and diabetes and point to targets for prevention or treatment.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has linked early overnutrition to leptin resistance and later obesity, but detailed effects on ARH-NPY neuron physiology and daily rhythms remain largely untested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wyoming
Laramie, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roberts, Brandon L — University of Wyoming
- Study coordinator: Roberts, Brandon L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Studying how aging and Alzheimer’s affect the front part of the brain using real-time imaging and computer models
Researchers will combine live brain imaging in animals with computer simulations to understand how aging and Alzheimer’s disease change the prefrontal cortex and relate to memory and thinking problems.
-
Remote AI-guided speech cues to help people with Parkinson’s speak more clearly
A remote AI-based tool uses a web camera to give personalized speech cues to adults with Parkinson’s to improve how clearly they talk.
-
Unlocking biased GPCR signaling to guide safer, smarter drugs
A research program from the University of Wyoming aims to understand how different beta-arrestin proteins shape GPCR signaling to help design drugs with better therapeutic effects and fewer side effects.
-
Ribosomal proteins and pseudogenes in stress-affected neurons
This project looks at how stress changes the proteins that make up ribosomes in brain cells, which could reveal new ways stress affects nervous system health.
-
Impact of early overfeeding on brain hunger neurons and energy balance
This grant looks at how early-life overnutrition may change brain circuits that control hunger and energy use, with potential implications for preventing obesity-related diseases.
-
Exercise timing to reset the brain’s body clock in breast cancer care
A study tests whether exercising at specific times can reset the brain’s circadian clock and potentially improve well-being for people coping with breast cancer.
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.