Name Roger A.H. Adan
Department Neuroscience and Pharmacology
Section coordinator: Section Neurobiology of behavior
Function professor
E-mail:
r.a.h.adan@umcutrecht.nl Tel +31 887568810
Research group Postdocs: Olivier van Beekum
PhD students: Frank Meye, Myrte Merkestein, Edwin Alserda, Esther van der Zwaal, Marek Brandys
Technical staff: Mieneke Luijendijk, Keith Garner, Maike Brans, Rea van Rozen, Judith Hendriks
Title research line genetic and neural pathways underlying eating disorders and obesity
Summary research
We aim at unraveling the genetic and neural pathways underlying eating disorders and obesity. Feeding behavior is a complex behavior that serves to control energy balance of an organism. Homeostatic control over energy balance is challenged by higher brain centers that drive feeding of palatable foods or inhibit feeding in order to loose weight. These disruptions may contribute to development of eating disorders and obesity. Several animal models are used in which anorectic behavior (including hyperactivity) is mimicked or in which animals become obese following exposure to palatable choice diets. Using viral vector technology, genes are either overexpressed or knocked down (RNAi) in these animals, in order to unravel the role of genes in feeding behavior and energy balance. Results from animal experiments are translated into clinical relevance by using a human genetics approach. DNA from eating disorders patients and epidemiological cohorts is available with extensive phenotypic information. This allows to determine genotype-phenotype relationships in humans.
PublicationsAdan RA, Vanderschuren LJ, la Fleur SE. Anti-obesity drugs and neural circuits of feeding. Trends Pharmacol Sci. Volume 29, 4, 2008, p208-217
la Fleur SE, Vanderschuren LJMJ, Luijendijk MC, Kloeze BM, Tiesjema B and Adan RAH A reciprocal interaction between food-motivated behavior and diet-induced obesity Int J Obes 2007 Aug;31(8):1286-94
Tiesjema B, Adan RA, Luijendijk MC, Kalsbeek A, la Fleur SE. Differential effects of recombinant adeno-associated virus-mediated neuropeptide Y overexpression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus and lateral hypothalamus on feeding behavior. J Neurosci. 2007 27(51):14139-46
de Krom M, van der Schouw YT, Hendriks J, Ophoff RA, van Gils CH, Stolk RP, Grobbee DE, Adan R. Common genetic variations in CCK, leptin, and leptin receptor genes are associated with specific human eating patterns. Diabetes. 2007 Jan;56(1):276-80.