Identification of novel pathways controlling food intake and energy balance

与肥胖相关的疾病是主要的死亡原因，随着肥胖症流行的恶化，预计还会增加。由于目前可用的减肥药物的疗效有限和/或安全性问题，确定新的药物靶点是很重要的。在像Prader Willi综合征(PWS)这样的自然发生模型中研究肥胖和过量食物摄入的原因，可能会为这一过程的复杂调控提供新的线索，并可能为PWS和普通肥胖症患者开辟新的治疗选择。

Obesity-associated diseases are leading causes of death and are expected to increase as the obesity epidemic worsens. Because of the limited efficacy and/or safety concerns of currently available anti-obesity drugs, it is important to identify new drug targets. Investigating the cause of obesity and excessive food intake in natural occurring models like Prader Willi Syndrome (PWS) has the potential to shed new light on the complex regulation of this process and might open up new treatment option for PWS as well as general obese patients.