The UIC Barcelona project, entitled “CPT1 proteins in the hypothalamus: Deciphering the perception of saturated and unsaturated fats and their implications for the development of obesity”, has obtained a competitive grant of €281,250 and its main objective is to investigate the perception of saturated and unsaturated fats and their implications in the development of obesity.

As the study's lead researchers explain, “Obesity, considered one of the greatest global health challenges, is strongly influenced by dietary factors. While unsaturated fats, such as those of plant origin, increase satiety and improve metabolism, saturated fats provoke inflammation in the hypothalamus, contributing to metabolic inflexibility and the development of obesity.” “As a result of our research at the Neurolipid Group, we believe that CPT1 proteins play a key role in differentially perceiving these types of nutrients, and with this study we want to analyse this in detail,” they add.

The project promoted by UIC Barcelona focuses on analysing the role of these proteins in different hypothalamic nuclei and the signalling pathways involved, including research in epigenetics, neuron-glia communication and inflammatory processes. Moreover, the project explores the development of nanomedicines specifically targeting CPT1 proteins in the hypothalamus, a potentially revolutionary approach to treating obesity and related metabolic diseases.

“This study not only promises to advance scientific understanding of the hypothalamic control of appetite and energy expenditure but could also lay the groundwork for developing new therapeutic strategies against obesity,” say Casals and Rodríguez.

The project enjoys the collaboration of national and international research groups such as the University College of London (United Kingdom), the Innovation Centre of Nanomedicine (Japan), the University California-Davis (United States), and Newcastle University (United Kingdom).

The award of this new competitive grant reaffirms UIC Barcelona's role as a leading research institution in the biomedical sector and underlines the University's commitment to improving health and quality of life globally.