Principal Investigator
Dr Aline Boer
Email aline.boer@otago.ac.nz
Tel +64 3 556 5498
Department of Anatomy website
Research interests
My research focuses on the hormone glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). It is increasingly recognised that GIP affects diverse physiological processes throughout the body, including the maintenance of energy balance. GIP has become a target for obesity therapies, and GIP-based drugs such as tirzepatide will likely have a major impact on health in New Zealand. However, it is unclear how GIP influences the regulation of body weight. Furthermore, there are indications that GIPR modulation could extend a healthy lifespan, with future treatments possibly targeting diverse diseases of ageing. Finally, emerging evidence suggest that the modulation of GIP receptors in the brain could influence reproductive processes.
In my research projects, I use different mouse models to modulate GIPR expression in desired locations or neurons in the brain to determine how GIPR signalling in these regions / neurons is involved in the pathophysiology of obesity and processes that affect healthy ageing, puberty onset and reproduction. With my research, I aim to reveal key mechanisms of action of GIP-based obesity therapies, thereby contributing to the optimisation of these drugs and broadening their scope for application.
Clinical conditions
- Obesity and Ageing
Boer Laboratory students
Melany Malcolm, PhD student (co-supervised by Mike Garratt)
Email malme418@student.otago.ac.nz