The hypothalamus in the brain is the converging point that integrates metabolic, neural, neuroendocrine, and neuroimmune signals to affect the whole body physiology. My research group is focusing on studying the roles of the hypothalamic immunity/inflammation cellular and molecular pathways in obesity and type 2 diabetes. We have discovered that in a hypercaloric environment the reactive microglia are important players in driving hyperphagia, adiposity and inappropriate glucose metabolism. We have also revealed the occurrence of hypothalamic angiogenesis in diet-induced obese mice as well as in postmortem hypothalamic tissue of patients with type 2 diabetes. Our research goal is to identify intracellular signaling pathways in the hypothalamic microglia that can be targeted by cell-specific compounds. By normalizing the dysfunctional hypothalamic microglial innate immunity, these compounds should be able to treat/prevent obesity & type 2 diabetes.