Research

The pervasiveness of obesity and metabolic diseases represents a serious and growing threat to global health and economy. Despite this, our current understanding of the regulation of metabolic homeostasis remains limited. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms underlying metabolic regulation represents a crucial and foundational step in the development of effective treatments for obesity and its associated ailments, as well as a range of other metabolic disorders.

The brain, and in particular the hypothalamus, situated deep within its recesses, plays a key role in the regulation of metabolic homeostasis. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the central nervous system's regulation of metabolism, our research team will leverage a diverse array of cutting-edge techniques, including transgenic animal generation, optogenetics, chemogenetics, in vivo Ca2+ imaging, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry, and biochemical assays. 

The CNS regulates metabolic adaptations to high physical activity

Most, if not all, animals have evolved in the environment in which high physical activity is required in order to seek food for surviving. Our genetics is optimized to this metabolically challenging environment, and not ready for our modern sedentary lifestyle. Human and rodents studies have shown that high physical activity or exercise training can dramatically improve metabolism. However, the mechanism underlying metabolic benefit of high-physical activity (a.k.a exercise) remains unclear, in particular the role of the CNS. A part of beneficial effects of exercise on metabolism results from metabolic adaptations to exercise such as increases the metabolic capacity of the skeletal muscle. Our lab will investigate the contributions of the CNS to metabolic adaptations to exercise.

If you are interested in our lab and would like to join the team, please contact teppei.fujikawa at utsouthwestern.edu

Grant Support 

The American Heart Association Scientist Development Grant (2014-2017)

San Antonio Area Foundation Biomedical Research Grant (2018-2019)

University of Texas System Rising STARs Award (2018-2021)

The Nathan Shock Center Pilot Grant (UT Health San Antonio ) (2018-2019)

The Center for Biomedical Neuroscience Pilot Grant (UT Health San Antonio ) (2019)

UTSW Internal Pilot Grant for Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research (2021) 

Regeneron Pharmaceuticals (2022-


Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute Visionary Neuroscience Program (2023-

NIH NIDDK (2023-