Accelerating Discovery: New integrated approaches to uncover the brain’s regulation of body weight
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Aberdeen
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Obesity is one of the global health care challenges of the 21st century and a strategic priority of the MRC. The University of Aberdeen (UoA) has a 100 year history of ground-breaking research in nutrition and health, led by researchers within the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health (RINH). The RINH is poised to move on to the UoA and NHS Grampian’s healthcare campus, sharing a site with our Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) thereby providing an optimal environment and unique platform to instigate and develop new technologies to elucidate the primary molecules and pathways controlling body weight. Specifically, we aim to take our expertise to the next level and seek MRC Discovery funding to develop new technology and to deliver benefits through funded pilot studies and knowledge exchange activities. This untapped potential is important because, at present, strategies for obesity treatment are limited, reflecting a profound unmet clinical need. The primary roadblock in the abatement of the obesity epidemic is an incomplete understanding of how body weight is mediated. Research to date indicates that the brain is the master coordinator of body weight, employing a number of interwoven neurological circuits to continually appraise and respond to changes in nutritional state. How the processes work, which neural circuits are the key factors, and how they are disrupted to promote and maintain obesity is unclear. Here we seek an MRC Discovery Award to facilitate our vision of a future centre of excellence in obesity research in Aberdeen by: (1) developing technology to unlock neurobiological processes essential for the prevention and treatment of obesity and; (2) increasing capability and capacity in the neurobiology of obesity research through: (a) creating MRC Discovery Research Fellows in obesity research; (b) pump priming competitively selected pilot studies; and (c) establishing a series of collaborative networking events and efforts, including a seminar series to promote outreach and networking both within Aberdeen and between other centres of excellence and the UoA. This MRC Discovery Award will not only provide a means to identify crucial mediators of body weight with exquisite precision, but will also facilitate the positioning of the UoA as a leader of neuroscience technology and obesity research.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
Publications
Burke LK
(2017)
Lorcaserin improves glycemic control via a melanocortin neurocircuit.
in Molecular metabolism
D'Agostino G
(2018)
Nucleus of the Solitary Tract Serotonin 5-HT2C Receptors Modulate Food Intake.
in Cell metabolism
Mcilroy GD
(2018)
Adipose specific disruption of seipin causes early-onset generalised lipodystrophy and altered fuel utilisation without severe metabolic disease.
in Molecular metabolism
Mcilroy GD
(2018)
Female adipose tissue-specific Bscl2 knockout mice develop only moderate metabolic dysfunction when housed at thermoneutrality and fed a high-fat diet.
in Scientific reports
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Keystone Symposia Scientific Advisory Board, Ad Hoc member |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | Dr Gabriella Aviello and Dr Giuseppe D Agostino: Tenovus Scotland Project grant |
| Amount | £11,435 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Tenovus Cancer Care |
| Department | Tenovus Scotland |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2018 |
| End | 03/2019 |
| Description | Grant to Dr Giuseppe D'Agostino |
| Amount | £44,209 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | GRANT/ECCO/G D'AGOST |
| Organisation | European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation (ECCO) |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | Austria |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 01/2020 |
| Description | Grant to Dr Justin Rochford: NEW TREATMENTS FOR SEVERE TYPE 2 DIABETES IN LIPODYSTROPHY |
| Amount | £159,536 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | 18/0005884 |
| Organisation | Diabetes UK |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 02/2019 |
| End | 01/2021 |
| Description | Internal Funding - Core Facilities Voucher to Dr Gabriella Aviello |
| Amount | £2,780 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 06/2018 |
| End | 07/2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler - BBSRC - DEFINING THE UNDERPINNINGS OF NEUROPPTIDE Y'S CONTROL HUNGER AND BODY FAT |
| Amount | £445,888 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/R01857X/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2018 |
| End | 10/2021 |
| Title | Dr Justin Rochford: Tissue specific disruption of the lipodystrophy gene BSCL2 |
| Description | Conditional mouse for disruption of Bscl2 in specific tissues |
| Type Of Material | Model of mechanisms or symptoms - mammalian in vivo |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Further understanding of the function of the lipodystrophy protein seipin |
| URL | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmet.2018.01.019 |
| Title | Prof Peter McCaffery: New tools for manipulating magnitude of retinoic acid receptor signalling pathway |
| Description | (i) Construct for overexpression of the cytochrome P450 enzyme Cyp26b1 which inactivates retinoic acid. The construct uses the EF1a promoter and contains a Posttranscriptional Regulatory Element (WPRE); a DNA sequence that, when transcribed creates a tertiary structure enhancing expression. (ii) Construct for knockdown of RBP4 using an appropriate construct together with a green fluorescent protein tag. RBP4 carries retinol and knockout will reduce the amount of retinol that can be synthesised into retinoic acid |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2018 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | No impact yet |
| Title | Red-green reporter method |
| Description | Projects within this MRC Discovery@Aberdeen award will extensively use CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. This is a powerful tool for precisely modifying genomic DNA sequences. However, a significant limitation is that the efficiency of this process is variable depending on the cell type and complexity of the targeted modification. As a result, screening for cells with the appropriate, desired modification can be very time consuming. We have therefore adopted a fluorescent based screening technique reported previously (Kim et al., Nature Methods, 8, 941-3, 2011) and optimised its use in cell types of relevance in this project. This fluorescent reporter system allows visualisation of CRISPR/Cas9 activity and subsequent fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) to recover only cells in which the Cas9, genome editing enzyme is active. We have adapted the fluorescent reporter system to make a plasmid reporter that specifically measures activity of CRISPR/Cas9 for the guide RNAs targeting our current genes of interest. The reporter plasmid contains an expression cassette for a red fluorescent protein (RFP), a linker that contains the guide RNA binding site followed by a green fluorescent protein (GFP) cassette. In its unedited form the construct expresses only RFP as the downstream GFP cassette is out of frame and fails to encode the GFP protein. However, Cas9 mediated editing of the linker sequence, leads to insertion or deletion of bases which can shift the GFP cassette into frame resulting in expression of the functional GFP. This dual system allows one to determine the efficiency of transfection by assessing the expression of the red fluorescence (RFP) as well as subsequently sorting by fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS) of green fluorescent cells to specifically purify cells in which genome editing has taken place. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | This research tool will significantly improve the efficiency with which we can isolate cells bearing the desired modifications to genomic DNA sequences. So far this has been specifically used to identify successful editing in genes of initial interest for this project. However, the construction of the screening vector makes it simple to rapidly modify for all our subsequent projects within this Discovery Award, as well as for use by other investigators on other projects. |
| Description | Brain circuits controlling intestinal inflammation (Dr D'Agostino G, Principal Investigator; Dr Aviello G, Collaborator) |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr D'agostino provides expertise in the most advanced technologies to manipulate neuronal circuits |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Aviello provides expertise in mucosal immunology and preclinical models of intestinal inflammation |
| Impact | European Crohn's and Colitis Organization (ECCO) Project grant 2018 - £44,209.83 |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Dr Gabriella Aviello and Dr Giuseppe D Agostino: Understanding the function of neuronal circuits regulating appetite during inflammatory conditions. |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Department | The Rowett Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr Gabriella Aviello provides expertise in mucosal immunology and preclinical models of intestinal inflammation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Dr Giuseppe D'Agostino provides expertise in most advanced technologies to manipulate neuronal circuits |
| Impact | Project grant award from Tenovus Scotland - £11,435 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Dr Giuseppe D Agostino and University of Manchester: Long term functional interrogation of synaptically and genetically defined neuronal population |
| Organisation | University of Manchester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Dr D'Agostino is providing expertise with genetic manipulation of neuronal circuits and a novel mouse model |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner team is providing expertise with models of metabolic diseases |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Dr Justin Rochford and Prof Lora Heisler: Invesitigating the role of seipin in the regulation of metabolic health |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Cre inducible mouse model of seipin ablation |
| Collaborator Contribution | Expertise in central regulation of appetite and relevant technical equipment and reagents |
| Impact | No outputs yet |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler and Dr Justin Rochford: 5-HT circuits impacting energy homeostasis |
| Organisation | University of Aberdeen |
| Department | The Rowett Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Designed and performed experiments, presented data and wrote manuscript for publication |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided expertise and reagents, contributed to the writing of manuscript for publication |
| Impact | Lorcaserin improves glycemic control via a melanocortin neurocircuit. Burke LK, Ogunnowo-Bada E, Georgescu T, Cristiano C, de Morentin PBM, Valencia Torres L, D'Agostino G, Riches C, Heeley N, Ruan Y, Rubinstein M, Low MJ, Myers MG, Rochford JJ, Evans ML, Heisler LK. Mol Metab. 2017 Oct;6(10):1092-1102. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2017.07.004. Epub 2017 Jul 21. PMID: 29031711 |
| Start Year | 2007 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler and University of Cambridge: 5-HT circuits impacting energy homeostasis - |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Designed and performed experiments, presented data and wrote manuscript for publication |
| Collaborator Contribution | Co-designed and performed experiments, contributed to the writing of manuscript for publication |
| Impact | Lorcaserin improves glycemic control via a melanocortin neurocircuit. Burke LK, Ogunnowo-Bada E, Georgescu T, Cristiano C, de Morentin PBM, Valencia Torres L, D'Agostino G, Riches C, Heeley N, Ruan Y, Rubinstein M, Low MJ, Myers MG, Rochford JJ, Evans ML, Heisler LK. Mol Metab. 2017 Oct;6(10):1092-1102. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2017.07.004. Epub 2017 Jul 21. PMID: 29031711 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler and University of Michigan: 5-HT circuits impacting energy homeostasis |
| Organisation | University of Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Designed and performed experiments, presented data and wrote manuscript for publication |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provided expertise and reagents, contributed to the writing of manuscript for publication |
| Impact | Lorcaserin improves glycemic control via a melanocortin neurocircuit. Burke LK, Ogunnowo-Bada E, Georgescu T, Cristiano C, de Morentin PBM, Valencia Torres L, D'Agostino G, Riches C, Heeley N, Ruan Y, Rubinstein M, Low MJ, Myers MG, Rochford JJ, Evans ML, Heisler LK. Mol Metab. 2017 Oct;6(10):1092-1102. doi: 10.1016/j.molmet.2017.07.004. Epub 2017 Jul 21. PMID: 29031711 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler, Dr Stefan Wagner and Prof Stefan Trapp collaboration: Obesity medication lorcaserin requires brainstem glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP-1) to reduce food intake |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration was initiated at the 2018 Neurobiology of Obesity (NOS) conference, funded by MRC Discovery grant. We are expert in obesity medication lorcaserin and collaborator Stefan Trapp is expert in brain GLP-1. We provided the hypothesis to investigate - whether lorcaserin employs the brain neuropeptide GLP-1 to produce its therapeutic effect. We tested this hypothesis using a variety of different methodological approaches. |
| Collaborator Contribution | 1. Examined whether GLP-1 knockdown attenuates lorcaserin's anorectic effect 2. Provided the Heisler lab with research tools to examine the ex vivo effect of lorcaserin in the brainstem. |
| Impact | N/A |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Characterization of proopiomelanocortin, leptin and 5-HT2C receptors regulating energy balance |
| Organisation | University of Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A general collaboration began over a decade ago. The most recent projects were discussed at the Neurobiology of Obesity (NOS) 2018 conference, funded by MRC Discovery grant. We are expert in brain 5-HT and proopiomelanocortin circuits regulating energy balance and body weight, collaborator Martin Myers from University of Michigan is expert in brain leptin signalling. Together, we characterised brain circuits regulating energy homeostasis. General collaboration has been on and off for more than a decade, including various projects leading to multiple publications. These 3 projects are the most recent collaboration. Two have been published and one is being submitted for publication. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Myers - leptin expertise |
| Impact | PMID: 30146485 PMID: 29914853 PMID: 29031711 PMID:27882999 PMID: 27516377 PMID: 26977396 PMID: 25470549 PMID: 25383904 PMID: 22869346 PMID: 22055500 PMID: 21531340 |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Role of hypothalamic 5-HT5A receptor in developmental programming of obesity |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | This collaboration was brought together at the Neurobiology of Obesity (NOS) 2017 conference, funded by MRC Discovery grant. We are expert in brain 5-HT circuits regulating energy balance and body weight, collaborator Giles Yeo is expert in gene analysis (e.g. RNASeq) and collaborator Sue Ozanne is expert in developmental programming. Both are from University of Cambridge. Together with other collaborators, we tested the hypothesis that 5-HT5A receptors within the brain region the hypothalamus impacts developmental programming of obesity. General collaboration has been on and off for more than a decade, including various projects leading to multiple publications. This project is the most recent collaboration. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Ozanne - developmental programming expertise Yeo - RNASeq analysis of hypothalamus |
| Impact | PMID: 27133129 PMID: 26769798 PMID: 23007189 PMID: 18039773 PMID: 17596444 |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Prof Peter McCaffery and Durham University: Collaboration to test the action of novel retinoids on the hypothalamus |
| Organisation | Durham University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | As part of this collaboration we will explore the action of some of these ligands to mimic the action of retinoic acid as potential future therapeutics. This collaboration started at the end of 2015 and remains active. This part of the collaboration to study the action of these molecules on the hypothalamus has just started and there are no outputs yet. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Prof Andy Whiting at Durham University has generated a range of ligands for the retinoic acid receptor (RARs) with high stability and greater affinity than retinoic acid itself. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. The collaboration is multi-disciplinary bringing expertise in chemical synthesis, modelling of receptor binding pockets and biological activity in the brain. |
| Start Year | 2015 |
| Description | Cafe Scientifique (Aberdeen): "Can our brain help us shed those holiday party pounds?", speakers: Professor Lora Heisler and Dr Lourdes Valencia-Torres |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 106 members of the public attended the cafe event, which was part of a series that invites leading experts to share the latest scientific research with the public in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. The speaker provides a short talk, then an audience led discussion forms the main part of the event, allowing the researcher to debate and discuss ideas with a new audience. Evaluation was undertaken via feedback forms, of which 25 were returned. The feedback from the forms was very good, with both the topic and the speakers rated 4 or 5 out of 5 in 96% of the forms. Specific comments included 'wonderful speakers', 'very informative' and 'excellent topic and engaging speakers, enjoyed it greatly'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.abdn.ac.uk/engage/public/events-50.php |
| Description | Dr Gabriella Aviello: 12th Congress of European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation in Barcelona (February 15-18, 2017) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The annual European Cronh's and Colitis Organization meeting host basic science, translational medicine and clinical sessions, and it includes oral presentations of the best abstracts and plenary lectures. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Dr Giuseppe D Agostino: May Festival - Gut Feeling: Digestive Health in Modern Culture, Friday 26th May, 11am - 12pm Regent Lecture Theatre, University of Aberdeen |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | More than 100 individuals attended for the public talk, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and audience reported increased interest in related subject areas |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Dr Justin Rochford: Aberdeen Science Centre: Stuff Worth Knowing Talk "Handling energy from food. Where did my Christmas dinner go (and is it still with me)?". Jan 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A public lecture in which the audience of around 80 included a wide range of ages from young adults and students to elderly individuals. The 45 minute talk was followed by an extensive, audience led discussion and questions for around 30 minutes involving a cross section of the audience. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/events/where-did-my-christmas-dinner-go-stuff-worth-k |
| Description | Dr Stefan Wagner, Prof Lora Heisler: Laurencekirk Rotary Club presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation: Genetically modified animals (about 25 people) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Dr Stefan Wagner, Prof Lora Heisler: HMP Peterhead |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Facts about fats: interaction with inmates and family members at the HMP Peterhead (about 12 inmates and 20 relatives) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Dr Stefan Wagner, Prof Lora Heisler: John Esslemont Lecture 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation: Do we need genetically modified crops? (about 20 people - Baha'i community Aberdeen) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Dr Stefan Wagner, Prof Lora Heisler: Mayfestival at the University of Aberdeen |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Helped guiding visitors in tours of the Rowett Institute. (about 30 people) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Dr Stefan Wagner, Prof Lora Heisler: Techfest Aberdeen |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Facts about fats: interaction with primary school students at the Aberdeen Science Center (about 100 pupils) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | PechaKucha event: "Warming up our fat" Speaker: Dr Pablo Blanco Martinez de Morentin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 50 members of the public attended this event, which uses a normal format to bring research stories to a general public audience. The event is held in a local cinema, with presenters showing 20 images with 20 seconds available for each image. This novel format attracts a new audience, who are interested in finding out about research topics they haven't been exposed to before. This helps to inform the public about the research being undertaken in the research group. Discussion is encouraged after the event, with an informal discussion in the bar area. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler - Innovate Aberdeen - Public talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 75 people attended this public talk held at Aberdeen Union Square discussing the impact of excess body weight on health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler - Interview for international news about research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | TV, web-based video interviews, newpaper interviews, web-based articles about research project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Broomhill school visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Prof Lora Heisler visited a senior school and presented to 50 pupils about energy intake and expenditure. This also included a demonstration with pupil participation, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and the school reported increased interest in related subject areas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Diabetes Patient Group workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
| Results and Impact | 30 people attended diabetes patient meeting held at the Rowett Institute. Purpose was to discuss latest Rowett research on diabetes and a general discussion of the needs of people with diabetes in terms of improving health and quality of life. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: European Association for the Study of Diabetes in Lisbon, Portugal |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at international meeting attended by world leaders in diabetes research and treatment. Press release made with regards to my presentation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.easd.org/annual-meeting/easd-2017.html |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: International Women's Day - Public talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 100 people attended this public talk held in Doha Qatar where I discussed research related to the MRC Discovery pilot and general discussion about professional development |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Keynote talk - Chinese Diabetes Society |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | More than 5000 people attended the keynote address where Prof Heisler discussed the discoveries she has made in the brain regulation of energy homeostasis and glycaemic control. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Keynote talk - Research Society for the Study of Diabetes in India |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | More than 1000 people attended the keynote address where Prof Heisler discussed the discoveries she has made in the brain regulation of energy homeostasis and glycaemic control. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Keynote talk and Scientific Achievement Prize - American Diabetes Association |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | More than 5000 people attended the prize talk where Prof Heisler discussed the discoveries she has made in the brain regulation of energy homeostasis and glycaemic control. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Mediterranean Neuroscience Society conference in Malta |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at national meeting attended by world leaders in endocrinology research and treatment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | http://www.mnsmeeting2017.com |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Neurobiology of Obesity Symposium (NOS) in Aberdeen |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | International symposium bringing together world leaders in the neurobiology of obesity to present and discuss the latest findings over 3 days. Attended by a little over 100 scientists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/events/nos-aberdeen/ |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Neurobiology of Obesity Symposium - Early Career Researcher (NOSER) in Aberdeen |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | International symposium bringing together early career researchers (postgraduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior principal investigators) in the neurobiology of obesity to present and discuss the latest findings over 1 day. Attended by approximately 75 scientists. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.abdn.ac.uk/rowett/documents/NOSER%20description.pdf |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Robert Gordon's College school visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Prof Lora Heisler visited a senior school and presented to 35 pupils about energy intake and expenditure. This also included a demonstration with pupil participation, which sparked questions and discussion afterwards, and the school reported increased interest in related subject areas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: School Visit |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 50 students attended a talk and demonstration about how food is converted to fuel for our bodies and why having too many stored calories is bad for our health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: School Visit II |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 50 students attended a talk and demonstration about how food is converted to fuel for our bodies and why having too many stored calories is bad for our health. General discussion about science as a career was also had. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Scientific talks at European academic conferences |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talks at 7 society conferences in 2018. Average audience 100 academics. a. British Pharmacological Society Cell Signalling annual meeting, Nottingham UK 16-17 April 2018; b. European College of Neuropharmacology (ECNP) annual meeting, Barcelona Spain, 6-9 October 2018; Physiological Society, Europhysiology meeting, London, UK, 14-16 September 2018; c. Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) annual meeting, Berlin Germany 7-11 July 2018; d. Fondation des Treilles Brain-Periphery Communications in Metabolic Control, Nice France 16-21 April 2018; e. 6th Helmholtz Diabetes Conference 26-28 Sept Munich Germany; f. 19th International Society for Serotonin Research Meeting -15-19 July, 2018 Cork Ireland g. Neurobiology of Obesity, 21-22 May 2018, Aberdeen UK |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: Stuff Worth Knowing - Public talk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 10 people attended this public talk held at Aberdeen Science Centre discussing the impact of excess body weight on health. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: the Biochemical Society meeting in Bath, UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at national meeting attended by world leaders in diabetes research and treatment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.biochemistry.org/Events/tabid/379/View/Conference/MeetingNo/SA202/Default.aspx |
| Description | Prof Lora Heisler: the British Endocrine Society meeting in Harrogate UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Presentation at national meeting attended by world leaders in endocrinology research and treatment. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://www.endocrinology.org/events/sfe-bes-conference/sfe-bes-2017/ |