Hormones derived from adipose tissue, so called adipokines, signal to the brain to regulate food intake and energy expenditure, while adipose tissue morphology and function is modulated by the brain through neuroendocrine and autonomous pathways. Dysregulations of this adipocyte-brain crosstalk are essentially involved in pathophysiological mechanisms leading to obesity and its sequelae i.e. diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. 

In an interdisciplinary research approach we utilize cellular and molecular techniques as well as animal models and human intervention studies to systematically address emerging questions within this context.