The role of SCN-expressed ghrelin receptors (GHSRS) in time-of-day aligned feeding

Active Project Grant Awarded Last action

Award ID
F30DK145145
Recipient
Awarding agency
Obligated
$82,896

Award facts

Completion date 0% complete
Originally
Place of performance
Dallas, TX 75390, USA

Award details come from USAspending.gov.

Description

As the agency reported it.

Abstract
Circadian rhythms are vital to overall health. These ~24-hour cycles regulate behavior, physiology, and molecular functions, enabling organisms to anticipate daily environmental changes. However, modern 24/7 lifestyles increasingly lead to circadian misalignment - a mismatch between internal biological clocks and the external environment. This misalignment can result in abnormal behaviors, such as nighttime eating or difficulty staying awake in the daytime. Both human and animal studies link circadian disruption to poor metabolic outcomes. This is especially relevant today, as over 43% of U.S. Adults are overweight and more than 16% live with obesity. While the association between circadian misalignment and metabolic health is well-documented, the biological mechanisms behind this link remain unclear. Understanding these mechanisms would directly support the niddk's mission to advance knowledge of metabolic disease and improve human health. A promising candidate linking circadian biology and metabolism is the hormone ghrelin. Ghrelin is secreted by gastric mucosal cells in response to fasting or in anticipation of food and powerfully stimulates hunger while decreasing energy expenditure. Ghrelin acts on the brain via its receptor, ghsr, which is expressed in multiple regions. One region with high ghsr expression is the primary circadian clock - the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. However, the role of ghsrs in the SCN is not known. This proposal tests the hypothesis that ghsrs in the SCN help regulate feeding behavior and circadian alignment of food intake. Aim 1 will determine whether ghsr expression in the SCN is necessary and sufficient for proper circadian feeding patterns. This will be done by selectively deleting or RE-expressing ghsr in SCN neurons, then measuring food intake rhythms and responses to peripheral ghrelin. Aim 2 will explore whether SCN ghsrs contribute to night eating syndrome (NES), a disorder characterized by delayed and dysregulated feeding. IT is predicted that disrupting ghsr expression in the SCN will lead to abnormal feeding rhythms and that restoring ghsr to the SCN may may be sufficient to recover circadian alignment of feeding. In addition, SCN ghsrs may contribute to the development and symptoms of NES. This research will be conducted under the CO- mentorship of DR. Jeffrey zigman and DR. Joseph takahashi at UT southwestern medical center. DR. Zigman is a leader in ghrelin biology, and DR. Takahashi is a pioneer in circadian research. Their combined expertise offers an ideal environment for mentorship and collaboration. In addition to advancing scientific understanding, this project will provide the applicant with hands-on training in genetic mouse model development, circadian data analysis, and neural control of metabolism. These skills will serve as a foundation for a future career as a physician-scientist. Through this fellowship, the applicant will also develop critical professional competencies, including scientific writing, leadership, and networking - key elements for long-term success in translational biomedical research.

Transactions

Action Obligated Date
Amendment $41,448
Amendment $0
Original award $41,448

Quick answers

Who received award F30DK145145?

F30DK145145 was awarded to The University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (National Institutes of Health) on December 12, 2026.

How much is award F30DK145145 worth?

$82,896 has been obligated on F30DK145145.

On GovTribe

See this award's full record

  • Every transaction and subaward
  • The recipient's other awards and teaming partners
  • Similar grant awards
  • Ask GovTribe AI about this award
Try for free Login