Eric McGregor

Eric’s project aims to understand the role of adiponectin in regulating neural metabolism at a cellular and tissue level. Adiponectin is the most abundant adipose-derived hormone in circulation. It is known to impact a variety of processes including activating oxidative metabolism.
Importantly, adiponectin receptors are present in high concentrations in multiple cell types and across brain regions. Despite this prevalence, little is understood about adiponectin’s role in the metabolic control of the brain. Eric hypothesizes that by coordinating metabolic changes in neurons and astrocytes, adiponectin signaling creates a more metabolically efficient brain. Using both in vivo and in vitro approaches, he is examining how an adiponectin receptor agonist changes metabolic and neuroinflammatory states and in terms of functional output, the electrical properties of brain.