Research Description
Obesity and metabolic diseases pose significant health challenges, affecting many people in developed countries. In this proposal, scientists are focusing on studying the role of a molecule called miR-33 and its function in our brain cells, specifically those responsible for controlling our eating habits. Our brain has a region called the hypothalamus that plays a crucial role in managing our weight and energy levels. Within this region, special cells known as AgRP neurons influence our hunger and feeding behavior. The researchers are studying how miR-33 affects these hunger neurons and how it might contribute to problems like obesity and disrupted metabolism. The study aims to understand how miR-33 influences our eating behavior, body weight, and overall health. By investigating the impact of miR-33 on hunger neurons, the researchers hope to uncover new insights into the complex world of obesity and metabolic issues. This research could lead to innovative ways to tackle these health challenges and improve our understanding of how our bodies work.Research Profile
What area of diabetes research does your project cover? What role will this particular project play in preventing, treating and/or curing diabetes?This project studies obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus from a translational approach. It mainly focuses on obesity and diabetes prevention through the study of hunger-related neurons. We study how a small molecule could modulate the activity of these neurons modifying our feeding behavior and overnutrition affecting obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus appearance and management.
If a person with diabetes were to ask you how your project will help them in the future, how would you respond?Our research focuses on understanding how specific brain cells control hunger and metabolism. By exploring the role of a espacific small molecule in these hunger-neurons, we aim to shed light on how our eating behaviors are regulated and can potentially transform obesity and diabetes management strategies. This could revolutionize our understanding of feeding behavior and might pave the way for innovative strategies in the prevention and management of obesity and diabetes, especially concerning dietary habits and diet efficiency. The ultimate goal is to translate these scientific discoveries into practical approaches that can positively impact individuals with diabetes, potentially offering more effective and personalized ways to manage this disease through improved and personalize interventions.
Why important for you, personally, to become involved in diabetes research? What role will this award play?The global rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes poses significant challenges in society, impacting healthcare systems, economies, and overall public health. During my PhD, I focused on understanding how nutrition influence the health of individuals with cardiovascular disease and diabetes over several years. It makes me realize how relevant and difficult to maintain healthy eating habits are and the heterogeneity of patients to follow different aspects of diet and their physiological responses. After that, exploring how our eating habits affect our metabolism fascinated me, especially in relation to managing conditions like overweight, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. I strongly believe that diet plays a pivotal role in managing and potentially curing these diseases. However, given the complexities of controlling eating habits, coupled with our modern, stimulus-driven lifestyles, it's not always straightforward. The study of molecules with the potential to modulate metabolism and feeding behavior are critical for the better management and effectiveness of clinical interventions and lifestyle changes. That's why I'm passionate about researching specific brain areas, particularly certain neurons, as they could hold the key to effectively managing feeding behavior and improving patients’ lives. I think this award presents a significant opportunity to further my research efforts and will serve as a catalyst, to delve deeper into this fascinating research field and transform a lot of lives.
In what direction do you see the future of diabetes research going?In the evolving landscape of diabetes research, the focus seems to be shifting towards both preventing the onset of the disease and seeking better treatments once it emerges. This shift involves not only effectively managing diabetes but also modulating lifestyle factors like feeding behavior, discovering new drugs, and harnessing cutting-edge technology. Nowadays, technological advancements are providing vast amounts of data from specific cells and organ regions, alongside real-time monitoring of disease progression. This extensive information has immense potential to enhance our comprehension of the disease and expedite the discovery of new treatment targets making real personalized medicine and targeted methodologies that account for an individual's genetics, lifestyle choices, and specific disease characteristics. The goal is to provide clinicians with precise, personalized advice, thereby reducing economic burdens and significantly enhancing patients' quality of life.