Professor Lora Heisler

Biography

Professor Heisler investigates brain circuits regulating energy homeostasis in an effort to identify new targets amenable to obesity and type 2 diabetes medications.  Professor Heisler received her PhD from Tufts University, USA in 1997 and held postdoctoral positions at the University of California, San Francisco USA from 1997-99 and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School (HMS) USA from 1999-2001.  In 2001, Professor Heisler was promoted to Instructor and set up her laboratory at HMS.  She then relocated her group to the University of Cambridge, UK in 2004 where they worked until 2013.  In 2013, the Heisler group moved to the Rowett Institute to take advantage of the Institute’s strengths in obesity research, ranging from molecules to man.

News 

Prizes and Awards

Professor Heisler was the recipient of the 2018 Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award (OSAA) from the American Diabetes Association.  Professor Heisler received the OSAA prize for her research identifying a new type of medication to improve type 2 diabetes.  This prestigious award recognises research in diabetes that demonstrates particular independence of thought and originality.  Her career scientific contributions include seminal discoveries in the brain control of appetite and blood sugar that demonstrate her innovation.

Professor Heisler commented: “Diabetes is such a widespread problem and it is crucial that we as scientists continue to research this disease in order to find new ways to combat it.  It is extremely humbling to be recognised for our contribution to diabetes research. I work alongside many talented colleagues."

Research Overview

Moomin Lab

Mechanisms Of Obesity, Metabolism, Insulin Senstivity and Nutrition

The brain represents the master coordinator of appetite and energy expenditure, employing interwoven neurological circuits to continually appraise and respond to changes in energy state.

Our research aims to discover and characterise these brain circuits using cutting edge technology with the objective of locating points within the pathway that are amenable to manipulation with manmade (drug) or natural (hormone) substances.

We also examine the impact of diet and body weight on circuit rewiring and mechanisms restore appropriate system connectivity and activity.

The ultimate aim of our research is to identify new treatments for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Current Research

Research team

• Dr Yuliia Martynova - Research fellow
• Dr Pablo Blanco Martinez de Morentin - Research fellow
• Mr Alasdair Leeson Payne - Research fellow
• Miss Raffaella Chianese - Research assistant
• Miss Dhamyaa Al-Halboosi - Research assistant
• Mr Matevz Arcon - PhD Student 

Funding and Grants

BBSRC

Diabetes UK

Wellcome Trust

Medical Research Scotland

Teaching Responsibilities

Frontiers of Biomedical Science - SM3002