Serotonin brain cells that control feeling full
Deconstruct Raphe Serotonin Neurons that Regulate Satiety
This work looks at specific serotonin nerve cells that connect to the brain's hunger center to learn how they help adults feel full and eat less.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11324536 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
The team will map which serotonin-producing neurons in the midbrain send signals to the arcuate nucleus (a key hunger center) and isolate that specific group of cells. They will record those neurons' activity during feeding using live (in vivo) calcium imaging to see when they turn on or off. The researchers will also test how altering those neurons' signals changes eating behavior in experimental models to link activity with appetite control.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with obesity or troublesome overeating would be the most likely group to benefit from treatments built on this work and to qualify for future related trials.
Not a fit: People without weight or appetite problems, or whose eating issues arise from non-serotonin causes, are less likely to benefit from findings of this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal new targets for safer appetite-reducing treatments to help people lose weight.
How similar studies have performed: Drugs that raise brain serotonin have previously reduced appetite (for example fenfluramine), but precisely mapping and manipulating the specific raphe-to-hypothalamus serotonin circuits is a newer and less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Dallas, United States
- Ut Southwestern Medical Center — Dallas, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Liu, Chen — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Liu, Chen
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.