Award
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 1K01DK144673-01A1
Assessing the Role of Gastrointestinal Mechanosensation in the Regulation of Feeding Behavior and Glucose Homeostasis
Recipient
University of Kansas Medical Center
Award Amount
$132,180.00
Ceiling
$132,180.00
Awarded
July 07, 2026
Identifier
1K01DK144673-01A1
The award supports research on how gastrointestinal mechanosensation via vagal oxytocin receptor neurons influences feeding behavior and glucose homeostasis, aiming to develop targeted treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Description
This project aims to define the role of vagal oxytocin receptor neurons and their central targets in regulating energy homeostasis in obesity and to elucidate vagal and endocrine mechanisms by which intestinal stretch regulates glucose homeostasis. The study focuses on gut-brain regulation of energy and glucose balance, with attention to sex as a biological variable and disruptions caused by obesity. It involves mastering chemogenetics, single-cell transcriptomics, microsurgeries, and metabolic phenotyping to lay the groundwork for precision gut-targeted interventions.