Talk by Garron Dodd, PhD, University of Melbourne, Australia

Metabolic diseases such as obesity and type-2 diabetes (T2D) are among the most pressing health challenges of our time. Affecting over one-third of the world’s population, they are projected to become the leading cause of mortality by 2030. Discovering effective treatments is a global health priority.While long regarded as disorders of peripheral organs, mounting evidence reveals that the brain plays a central role in their development and progression. This seminar will explore how neural circuits regulate energy balance, glucose homeostasis, and insulin sensitivity, highlighting the dynamic two-way communication between the brain and peripheral tissues.Drawing on recent discoveries from AProf Dodd’s laboratory, we will examine how specific brain pathways act as potential therapeutic targets. By understanding and harnessing these mechanisms, new opportunities emerge to design treatments that more effectively combat obesity and T2D.