Targeting vagus nerve signals that control appetite to help treat obesity
Official title: Evaluating the therapeutic potential of vagal CART circuitry for treating metabolic disease
Funded at Monell Chemical Senses Center · NIH-11141467 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests whether changing gut-to-brain nerve signals can reduce overeating and help people with diet-related obesity prefer healthier foods.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Monell Chemical Senses Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | February 5, 2018 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $814,696 |
| NIH project number | 2R01DK116004-07A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11141467 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are people with diet-related obesity or overeating driven by high-fat/high-sugar foods who are interested in future nerve- or brain-based treatments.
✕Less likely to help
People whose obesity is driven primarily by rare genetic syndromes, major hormonal disorders, or who need immediate clinical treatments are less likely to benefit directly from this preclinical work.
What this research studies
Researchers will use animal models of diet-induced obesity to see how high-fat, high-sugar diets change nerve signals from the gut to the brain. They will record activity from vagal sensory neurons with in vivo calcium imaging and use transcriptomic profiling to identify molecular changes. The team will also examine downstream brain circuits for fullness and reward, including the role of nigrostriatal dopamine, to see if those circuits remain functional in obesity. Results will guide whether targeting these gut–brain pathways could be developed into new therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new treatments that target gut–brain nerve pathways or brain reward systems to reduce overeating and improve weight control.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown that manipulating gut–brain vagal pathways can change eating and satiety in lab models, but translating these findings into human treatments remains early and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Monell Chemical Senses Center
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: De Lartigue, Guillaume Fh — Monell Chemical Senses Center
- Study coordinator: De Lartigue, Guillaume Fh
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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.