Nerve-Gut Interactions
The detection of glucose in the intestine triggers mechanisms that are fundamental to blood glucose homeostasis, yet surprisingly little is known of how these events are coordinated at the mucosal level.
Research conducted by the CRE has identified a new intestinal glucose sensor that is defective in humans with diabetes and the critically ill - risking abnormal blood glucose levels.
Further research will provide new ideas on how this sensor controls blood glucose in health, human diabetes and critical illness, and have the potential to redefine management strategies of these patients.
Research
Intestinal sweet taste receptor control of glucose absorption in human health and disease
Associate Professor Richard Young
Associate Professor Young's research is identifying nutrient sensing mechanisms in the small intestine. His research has a particular focus on intestinal sweet taste receptors and employs PCR, immunohistochemistry and advanced functional techniques, along with the use of unique murine knockout models. These translational studies are complimented by human studies he undertakes assessing molecular and functional changes in intestinal nutrient sensing pathways in diabetes, obesity and critical illness.
The role of adipokines in modulation of gastric vagal afferent satiety signals
Professor Page is a leading authority on vagal innervation of the gut, and how this relates to major diseases including obesity.
Her research team is uniquely placed to investigate gastric vagal afferents in satiety signalling given the equipment, techniques, expertise and access to both a diet-induced obese mouse model and full thickness sections of human stomach with vagal afferent branches attached.