Understanding how brain serotonin affects eating and weight management
Official title: 5-HT NEURONS AND MEAL REGULATION
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10869901 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how certain brain cells that use serotonin help control eating and weight, and it hopes to find new ways to treat obesity by understanding how these cells work with other brain signals.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $76,756 |
| NIH project number | 5F32DK134121-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10869901 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals struggling with obesity or weight management issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not overweight or do not have issues related to body weight regulation may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of serotonin neurons in regulating food intake and body weight. It aims to uncover how these neurons interact with other brain signals, particularly GABA and dopamine, to influence eating behaviors. By studying mice with specific genetic modifications, the research seeks to identify mechanisms that could lead to new treatments for obesity. The findings may help develop safer and more effective weight loss therapies by targeting serotonin pathways.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new, safer treatments for obesity that effectively regulate appetite and body weight.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting serotonin pathways for weight management, but this specific approach is still being explored.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcdermott, Kristine Marie — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Mcdermott, Kristine Marie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Multimodal AI to improve genetic diagnosis of congenital heart disease
A new AI tool uses multiple types of patient data to help doctors find genetic causes of congenital heart disease more accurately.
-
Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Children
This project watches how often common vaccines prevent illnesses in kids who are in the hospital or at the emergency department, and compares them with healthy children getting well-child care.
-
Triple gene therapy approach to heal the heart after a heart attack
A new therapy combines three genetic approaches delivered by a virus to help the heart heal after a heart attack.
-
Thalamic sleep circuit changes in Alzheimer's disease
Aims to understand how sleep-related brain activity in a key sleep regulator called the TRN affects Alzheimer’s progression and whether boosting TRN function could slow symptoms.
-
Cardiomyocyte-fibroblast signaling in atrial fibrillation
A researcher at Baylor College of Medicine is studying how signals between heart muscle cells and supportive heart cells influence atrial fibrillation, with the goal of finding new ways to prevent or treat this common heart rhythm problem.
-
UMPIRE: Keeping Kidneys Healthy for Babies with Spina Bifida
A care protocol for newborns with spina bifida aims to protect kidney function by thoughtful bladder management and monitoring from birth.
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.