Our research examines the role of the brain in the regulation of energy balance and glucose metabolism and how defects in this control system may contribute to the development of obesity, insulin resistance and diabetes. Among ongoing projects in the Morton lab are studies that seek to identify neurocircuits that regulate feeding and blood glucose levels during environmental, physiological and homeostatic challenges. To accomplish this, state-of-the-art neuroscience approaches, including optogenetics, chemogenetics and fiber photometry methodologies are utilized to selectively activate, inhibit or record the activity of specific neuronal populations in combination with genetic, molecular biological and immunohistochemical techniques. Our overarching goal is to identify new possible treatments for obesity and diabetes.Dr. Morton has been continuously funded by the National Institute of Health (NIH), along with current, or previous funding sources from the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, and Industry and also serves on several editorial and grant review boards.