Wellcome Trust PhD Programme for Clinicians at Imperial College London. (360G-Wellcome-090793_Z_09_Z)

£235,491

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a neurotransmitter of the secretin/glucagon family, all of whose members inhibit appetite. VIP shares strong homology with pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP). VIP and PACAP bind with equal affinity to the VPAC1R and VPAC2R whilst PAC1R is specific for PACAP. VPAC2R and PAC1R are expressed in the hypothalamus, specifically in nuclei known to regulate appetite. Both VIP and PACAP have been shown to reduce food intake but administration of PACAP, acting via PAC1R, is associated with other behavioural abnormalities. My preliminary experiments have shown VIP powerfully reduces food intake in rodents without any effect on behaviour and that hypothalamic VPAC2R expression is reduced by a 24 hour fast. I will now investigate the physiological role of hypothalamic VIP in the regulation of food intake. To achieve this I will determine the hypothalamic site of action of VIP and the neuronal pathways involved. I will also investigate how chronic increased and decreased hypothalamic VIP expression affects energy homeostasis. This programme of work will characterise the physiological role of VIP in the regulation of food intake and its potential as a target, in the development of novel treatments for obesity.

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Grant Details

Amount Awarded 235491
Applicant Surname Simpson
Approval Committee Neurosciences And Mental Health
Award Date 2009-10-20T00:00:00+00:00
Financial Year 2009/10
Grant Programme: Title PhD Training Fellowship for Clinicians
Internal ID 090793/Z/09/Z
Lead Applicant Dr Katherine Simpson
Partnership Value 235491
Planned Dates: End Date 2014-02-28T00:00:00+00:00
Planned Dates: Start Date 2009-11-01T00:00:00+00:00
Recipient Org: Country United Kingdom
Region Greater London
Sponsor(s) Prof Charles Bangham, Prof Charles Pusey