Research Opportunities Database
Eduardo A. Nillni
Professor of Medicine
Department: Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry
Phone: +1 401 444 5733
Email: Eduardo_Nillni@Brown.EDU
Location:
401-444-5733; Eduardo_Nillni@Brown.eduResearch Summary
Obesity and its related medical complications including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dyslipidemia, and cancer account for more than 300,000 deaths per year in the United States. Obesity occurs as a result of a longstanding imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure, which is influenced by a very complex set of biological pathway systems regulating appetite. A more thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of obesity and regulation of energy metabolism is essential for the development of effective therapies. My laboratory study the biology of different hypothalamic neuropeptide hormones and enzyme nutrient sensors involved in the regulation of energy balance.Past or Present Projects Available:
Available projects:1) Endoplasmic reticulum stress controlling anorexigenic peptides
2) The role of the hypothalamic nutrient sensor Sirt1 in controlling food intake
3) Regulation of the thyroid axis by neuropeptide Y
4) Insulin regulating the prohormone convertases
5) Determining the Role of Sucrose Non-Fermenting Related Kinase in Brown Adipocte Energy Metabolism
Projects Complete:
Hypothalamic Control of Energy Intake and Expenditure: The Effect of Sirt1 on Prohormone Convertases; Regulation of mTOR Signaling by the SIRT1 Enzyme in the Arcuate Nucleus of the Hypothalamus; Sirt1 and PC2: Elucidating the role of transcription factors in hypothalamic hormone processing