Investigating brain neurons that stimulate appetite
Official title: Orexigenic AgRP neurons in the brainstem
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11046655 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at certain brain cells that help control hunger to better understand how they work and how they might lead to new ways to help people manage their appetite and treat obesity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | March 4, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $469,751 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136031-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11046655 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults over 21 years old who are struggling with obesity or related eating disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are under 21 years old or those without issues related to appetite regulation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding specific neurons in the brainstem that are responsible for stimulating appetite. It aims to identify how these neurons interact with metabolic signals and how they may work alongside other known appetite-regulating neurons. By studying a newly discovered population of AgRP-expressing neurons, the research seeks to uncover the mechanisms that drive feeding behavior, which could lead to new treatment strategies for obesity. Patients may benefit from insights into how their appetite is regulated and potential new therapies that could emerge from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments for obesity by providing a better understanding of appetite regulation.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in understanding appetite regulation through neuronal pathways, but this specific focus on hindbrain AgRP neurons is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xu, Allison W — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Xu, Allison W
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How cancer cells use exosomes to evade the immune system
This study is looking at how cancer cells use tiny bubbles called exosomes to hide proteins that can keep your immune system from fighting the tumor, and by figuring this out, the researchers hope to help doctors understand why some people respond well to cancer treatments while others don’t, ultimately aiming to creat
-
Reducing harm from smoking using electronic cigarettes
This study is looking at whether using electronic cigarettes can be a safer option for people who smoke traditional cigarettes, by comparing the health effects and exposure to harmful substances between the two.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Cutaneous opioid signals in skin inflammation
A mentor-identified clinician-researcher at UCSF is studying how natural skin opioids regulate itch and pain in inflammatory skin conditions like eczema and hidradenitis, with plans to map where these opioids come from and how they affect skin nerves.
-
Pooling international data to understand long-term bisphosphonate use and atypical femur fractures
This project combines large patient datasets from multiple countries to understand how long-term bisphosphonate use relates to rare hip and thigh bone fractures, helping doctors and patients make safer treatment choices.
-
Airway cell and immune cell talks in lung transplant failure
This grant tests how airway cells and immune cells interact to drive chronic rejection after lung transplant, with the goal of slowing or preventing scar-like damage.
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.