Domaine de recherche
Neurometabolism
Description des travaux
My research focuses on the neural circuits and signaling mechanisms that control food intake, energy expenditure and glucose homeostasis. This also involves investigating the mechanism of action of metabolically relevant drugs/biomolecules and their targets in the central nervous system. In addition, my research explores the integration of metabolic status within sleep relevant neuronal populations.
To address my research questions I use an integrative/multidisciplinary approach combining state-of-the-art neuroscience techniques including patch-clamp electrophysiology (single neuron recording), genetic mouse models, designer receptors exclusively activated by designer drugs (DREADDs), pharmacology, functional circuit mapping, and in vivo physiology.
Prix et distinctions
2- 2019 - Best Poster Presentation Award at the 5th McGarry Symposium in Dallas - Awarded for my work on Melanocortin regulation of histamine neuron activity 2018 - PDA Travel Grant to attend the Keystone Symposia Functional Neurocircuitry of Feeding and Feeding Disorders Conference 2016 - Biomedicine Discovery Institute Travel Grant - Awarded to attend the Keystone Symposia Obesity and Adipose Tissue Biology Conference 2016 - CASS Foundation Travel Grant - Awarded to attend the Keystone Symposia Obesity and Adipose Tissue Biology Conference 2015 - Ian Potter Foundation Travel Grant - Awarded to attend The Society for Neuroscience’s 45th Annual Scientific Meeting (SFN) 2015 - Schools of Biomedical Sciences (SOBS) Travel Grant - Awarded to attend The Society for Neuroscience’s 45th Annual Scientific Meeting (SFN) 2014 - Named Post-Doc on National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) funded project grant (#1063955 - Brain glucose-sensing: age- and energy-status-dependent plasticity of function-specific Pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) glucose-sensing neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus) 2014 - The Paula and Jack Hansky Prize for Research Excellence - Awarded for my work on Mitochondrial uncoupling in the melanocortin system 2012 - Faculty sponsorship - awarded to complete a Professional Certificate in Teaching and Learning (Higher Education) - Swinburne University 2011 - 2015 Sponsorship as an athlete by a major Australian sports supplementation company 2009 - Best Student Oral Presentation Award at the AutoCRC Conference in Melbourne - Awarded for my work on Paradigm to assess driver distraction in real and virtual environments 2006 - 2010 Full time PhD stipend scholarship from the Cooperative Research Centre for Advanced Automotive Technology (AutoCRC Australia) 2006 - 2010 Fee exemption scholarship (PhD) - Australian Government
Publications
14- Michael NJ, Caron A, Lee CE, Castorena CM, Lee S, Zigman JM, Williams KW, Elmquist JK. Melanocortin regulation of histaminergic neurons via perifornical lateral hypothalamic melanocortin 4 receptors.. Mol Metab 2020; 35(0):100956.
- Michael NJ, Zigman JM, Williams KW, Elmquist JK.. Electrophysiological Properties of Genetically Identified Histaminergic Neurons.. Neuroscience 2020; 444(0):183-195.
- Haynes VR, Michael NJ, van den Top M, Zhao FY, Brown RD, De Souza D, Dodd GT, Spanswick D, Watt MJ.. A Neural basis for Octanoic acid regulation of energy balance.. Mol Metab 2020; 34(0):54-71.
- Michael NJ, Elmquist JK.. Coordination of metabolism, arousal, and reward by orexin/hypocretin neurons.. J Clin Invest 2020; 130(9):4540-4542.
- Michael NJ, Watt MJ.. Long Chain Fatty Acids Differentially Regulate Sub-populations of Arcuate POMC and NPY Neurons.. Neuroscience 2020; 451(0):164-173.
- Caron A, Michael NJ. New Horizons: Is Obesity a Disorder of Neurotransmission?. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2021; 106(12):e4872-e4886.
- Castorena CM, Caron A, Michael NJ, Ahmed NI, Arnold AG, Lee J, Lee C, Limboy C, Tinajero AS, Granier M, Wang S, Horton JD, Holland WL, Lee S, Liu C, Fujikawa T, Elmquist JK. CB1Rs in VMH neurons regulate glucose homeostasis but not body weight.. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2021; 321(1):E146-E155.
- Pallubinsky H, Carreau AM, Michael NJ.. Women in metabolic science.. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2023; 324(0):E553-E555.
- Srour N, Caron A, Michael NJ. Do POMC neurons have a sweet tooth for leptin? Special issue: Role of nutrients in nervous control of energy balance.. Biochimie 2022; 0(0):Epub.
- Lavoie O, Michael NJ, Caron A. A critical update on the leptin-melanocortin system.. J Neurochem 2023; 165(4):467-486.
- Srour N, Lavoie O, Khouma A, Minbashi Moeini M, Plamondon J, Kinkead R, Michael NJ, Caron A. Electrophysiological Comparison of Definitive Pro-opiomelanocortin Neurons in the Arcuate Nucleus and the Retrochiasmatic Area of Male and Female Mice.. Neuroscience 2023; 530(0):95-107.
- Khouma A, Moeini MM, Plamondon J, Richard D, Caron A, Michael NJ. Histaminergic regulation of food intake.. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14(0):1202089.
- Porlier A, Gagnon PY, Chénard V, Veillette M, Bertrand N, Duchaine C, Michael NJ, Simard C, Drolet B. Stability of Opened Durvalumab (IMFINZI) Vials. The Beginning of the End of Costly Product Wastage?. J Pharm Sci 2023; 112(9):2412-2418.
- Gagnon M, Fournier S, Marcouiller F, Guay L, Joseph V, Michael NJ, Kinkead R. Intermittent Hypoxia and Weight Loss: Insights into the Etiology of the Sleep Apnea Phenotype.. Adv Exp Med Biol 2023; 1427(0):61-71.
