Congratulations to Sadaf Farooqi (@Farooqi_Lab, @IMS_MRL, @Cambridge_Uni), Yong Xu (@DrYongXu1, @USouthFlorida) and Tiago Branco (@SWC_neuro), on receiving an @ERC_Research Synergy Grant to study the biology of instinctive behaviour. 👏 Read more:

Grateful to team up with Sadaf Farooqi (Cambridge, @Farooqi_Lab) and Tiago Branco (UCL, @SWC_Neuro) to study innate behaviors in animals and humans, funded by @ERC_Research Synergy Grant. Thanks to @Lockwood_MD and @USFHealth for the huge support!

6. The INSTINCT consortium are delighted to have the opportunity to undertake this research and are grateful to @ERC_Research.

5. They will then explore how the same genetic changes affect the metabolism of mice and their behaviour in a social setting. Then with state of the art technologies, they will unravel the precise way in which the wiring of the brain controls instinctive behaviour across species.

4. The grant will allow the consortium to study people with genetic changes which affect hypothalamic pathways using super high-resolution brain scans to visualise how the brain works in response to stress or when a person is hungry or full.

3. Their research has shown that pathways in a key part of the brain called the hypothalamus control a range of instinctive behaviours. Genetic mutations can disrupt these pathways and cause overeating, obesity and in some cases, autistic traits, aggression and severe anxiety.

2. As the newly formed INSTINCT consortium, their three teams will carry out a highly ambitious research programme to deliver a step-change in our understanding of instinctive behaviour in animals and humans.

1. Prof Sadaf Farooqi (UCAM), Prof Tiago Branco (@trabranco - UCL) and Prof Yong Xu (@DrYongXu1 - USF) have been awarded a highly prestigious ERC Synergy Grant (@ERC_Research) worth 10 million Euros.

With thanks to our colleagues, collaborators, funders and most importantly, all the participants in our studies @CambridgeBRC @wellcometrust @rarediseaseuk @CamMetaboNet @IMS_MRL (6/6)

People with MC4R deficiency will likely benefit from Tirzepatide and should have access to it. (5/6)

In a second paper in Nature Medicine, we showed that people with MC4R deficiency in the SUSTAIN-1 trial, lost weight with Tirzepatide. The amount of weight lost was comparable to people with common obesity. DOI: https://t.co/Ips3hwQqhk (4/6)

These studies demonstrate that brain MC4Rs regulate human lipid metabolism. Further studies could provide new approaches to reducing cardiovascular disease risk. (3/6)

Despite severe obesity, MC4R deficient people had lower LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and cardiovascular risk compared to people in UK Biobank of the same age and BMI. (2/6)

In a paper just published in Nature Medicine, we characterised the largest cohort of people with loss-of-function mutations in the Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene. https://t.co/9me3ak8Jrd (1/6)

I recently joined the wonderful #DiabetesBio podcast team to discuss our recent paper entitled Glucagon Receptor Deficiency causes Early-Onset Hepatic Steatosis.

👏Many congratulations👏 to Professor Sadaf Farooqi @Farooqi_Lab for being honoured with the prestigious Gerald D. Aurbach Award by the Endocrine Society for Outstanding Translational Research To read more👉 https://t.co/mUzyO2221x @IMS_MRL @CUH_NHS @Cambridge_Uni @TheEndoSociety

🙌Many congratulations to all winners, but in particular our very own Professor Sadaf @Farooqi_Lab as recipient of the Gerald D. Aurbach Award for Outstanding Translational Research. https://t.co/xiu4N7rQgG

Thank you to @TheEndoSociety for this prestigious honour!

Professor Farooqi to receive 2026 Laureate Award from @TheEndoSociety! Details on Endocrine Society website and here: https://t.co/VvpUNDkG1D

#4 With thanks to our collaborators and funders @CambridgeBRC @wellcometrust @TessCacciottolo