Summary
My research focuses on the role of the hypothalamus in the control of energy homeostasis and reproduction. Both of these physiological roles have important implications for human health. I am particularly interested in how the gut senses nutritional status and signals to appetite centres of the brain such as the hypothalamus and brain stem to regulate food intake. I am also interested in how central hypothalamic neuropeptide circuits act to control body weight and reproductive function.
I have won funding from sources including the BBSRC, the MRC, the Technology Strategy Board, the Society for Endocrinology, the British Society for Neuroendocrinology, the British Pharmacological Society and the NC3Rs. I have successfully supervised more than twenty PhD students to completion. I am Director of Postgraduate Studies (Research) for the Department of Medicine, and Admissions Tutor for the Faculty of Medicine with particular responsibility for widening participation.
Publications
Journals
McGrath T, Spreckley E, Rodriguez A, et al., The homeostatic dynamics of feeding behaviour identify novel mechanisms of anorectic agents, Plos Biology, ISSN:1544-9173
Chambers E, Byrne C, Morrison D, et al., 2019, Dietary supplementation with inulin-propionate ester or inulin improves insulin sensitivity in adults with overweight and obesity with distinct effects on the gut microbiota, plasma metabolome and systemic inflammatory responses: a randomised cross-over trial, Gut, Vol:68, ISSN:0017-5749, Pages:1430-1438
Nahar L, Murphy KG, Paterson S, 2019, Misuse and mortality related to gabapentin and pregabalin are being under-estimated: a two-year post-mortem population, Journal of Analytical Toxicology, ISSN:0146-4760
Amin A, Neophytou C, Thein S, et al., 2018, L-Arginine increases post-prandial circulating GLP-1 and PYY levels in humans, Obesity, Vol:26, ISSN:1930-7381, Pages:1721-1726
Conference
Szepietowski O, Alsters SI, Mahir G, et al., 2018, PREDICTING REMISSION OF NON-INSULIN TREATED TYPE 2 DIABETES AFTER RYGB, 23rd World Congress of the International-Federation-for-the-Surgery-of-Obesity-and-Metabolic-Disorders (IFSO), SPRINGER, Pages:191-191, ISSN:0960-8923