Investigating how a specific brain signaling pathway affects food reward and intake.
Official title: The role of LDTg to VTA calcitonin receptor signaling in the control of food reward
Funded at University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11035093 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a certain brain signal affects eating habits and motivation for food, with the hope that understanding this could help develop new ways to manage obesity and control cravings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $36,784 |
| NIH project number | 5F31DK139757-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11035093 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 not overweight or do not have issues related to food intake or reward may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the role of calcitonin receptor signaling in a specific brain region (LDTg) and its impact on food intake and motivation for food rewards. By using advanced techniques like chemogenetics, the study aims to activate neurons that influence feeding behavior and assess how this affects appetite and energy balance. The findings could lead to new treatments for obesity by targeting these signaling pathways to help control food intake and reward-driven eating behaviors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to novel pharmacotherapies that help manage obesity by regulating appetite and food reward.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in targeting similar brain pathways for appetite control, indicating potential for success in this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sanchez-Navarro, Marcos J — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Sanchez-Navarro, Marcos J
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.