Wednesday, December 3, 2025 12/3/2025

Hypothalamic-Striatal Control of Motivation for Obesogenic Food

Award Number: R01DK106229
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2020
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2021

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Hypothalamic-Striatal Control of Motivation for Obesogenic Food - PROJECT ABSTRACT Obesity is an alarming chronic health crisis that currently affects 39.8% of the adult population (2015-2016) in the United States. Obese individuals present a challenging public health problem because they are at increased risk for several life-threatening and costly co-morbidities including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Because the financial and health burdens of obesity are so pernicious, a more mechanistic appreciation of the feeding behavior(s) that contribute to obesity is critical to understanding the etiology of this disease and for identifying druggable targets. One feeding behavior that contributes to obesity is overconsumption of highly palatable food. Highly palatable food, including high-fat food, is an important driver of obesity and has demonstrated reinforcement value in rodents. Reinforcement is mediated in part by the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcSh), a key neuroanatomical substrate that regulates hedonic feeding. Another substrate governing food intake is the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). The PVN regulates food intake at the level of physiological energy requirements, and facilitates homeostatic feeding behavior. PVN neurons project to the NAcSh (PVN→NAcSh) and orchestrate social reward, but their role in motivation for high-fat food remains unknown. Preliminary data indicate that the neurotransmitter Glutamate (Glu) plays an integral role in PVN→NAcSh transmission. Pharmacogenetic stimulation of PVN→NAcSh neurons results in robust and sustained presynaptic Glu release in the NAcSh. Additionally, administration of Glu agonists directly to the NAcSh decrease feeding, while administration of Glu antagonists evoke an immediate and sustained increase in consumption behavior. Despite considerable evidence of Glu involvement in consumption behavior, the role of Glu in motivation for high fat food has not been explored. We propose that Glu signaling within PVN→NAcSh neurons is a critical neuromodulator of motivation for high-fat food. The objectives of this proposal are to (1) establish the neuroanatomical basis for Glu signaling in PVN→NAcSh and (2) manipulate presynaptic Glu release in PVN→NAcSh to test specific hypotheses concerning the role of Glu in the regulation of motivation for high-fat food. Completion of these objectives will provide the applicant with training in new concepts and methodologies, including the neurobiology of obesity, the design and interpretation of behavioral experiments, principles and methods of neuropharmacology, and the application of genetic technology. The outcomes of these studies will have a sustained, powerful impact on our field by identifying a key regulatory role for Glu transmission in PVN→NAcSh mediated motivation for highfat food, which will critically advance efforts to improve treatment outcomes in obesity and metabolic dysregulation.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2026	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	4	10/1/2025	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	5	8/30/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $434,297 )
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	4	4/29/2020	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$10,256
2020	2020	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	001	5	5/1/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$424,041
														Subtotal = $434,297

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $348,750 )
2019	2019	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	4	4/8/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$348,750
														Subtotal = $348,750

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $348,750 )
2018	2018	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	3	5/17/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$348,750
														Subtotal = $348,750

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $348,750 )
2017	2017	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	2	3/14/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$313,875
2017	2017	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	301 UNIVERSITY BLVD	GALVESTON	TX	77555	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	001	2	6/21/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$34,875
														Subtotal = $348,750

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $348,750 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, MEDICAL BRANCH AT GALVESTON	1000 STRAND	GALVESTON	TX	77550	GALVESTON	USA	Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research	000	1	4/19/2016	NEW	$348,750
														Subtotal = $348,750

Grand Total All Awards = $1,829,297

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Hypothalamic-Striatal Control of Motivation for Obesogenic Food

Award Number: R01DK106229

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DIABETES & DIGESTIVE & KIDNEY DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 02/01/2020

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2021

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer