#Helferlab
Understanding Brain Mechanisms for Healthy Living
ABOUT
No one wants to overeat, yet many of us are fighting a never-ending battle with our hormones and ancient brain centres to try to control our body weight - often unsuccessful. At #Helferlab, we use state-of-the art neuroscience research to understand why losing weight can be such a challenge. We explore how our brains work against our dieting goals, why some folks feel hungier than others, and how good circadian health can help us live a longer and healthier life.
We want to ...
In the #Helferlab, we use a range of model systems (from brain cells to animal models to humans) and state-of-the art tools including gene therapy, stereotaxic surgery, behavioural analysis, nutritive interventions and metabolic characterisations, molecular biology and imaging.
We want to ...
- understand how appetite and body weight is regulated in the brain
- uncover strategies to prevent obesity or therapeutic solutions for treating it
- uncover the fascinating reasons why some animals life healthy and long lives
In the #Helferlab, we use a range of model systems (from brain cells to animal models to humans) and state-of-the art tools including gene therapy, stereotaxic surgery, behavioural analysis, nutritive interventions and metabolic characterisations, molecular biology and imaging.
Meet Dr Gisela Helfer
Dr Gisela Helfer is a passionate neuroscientist dedicated to understanding the mysteries of the brain and promoting healthy living. With a background in Biology and Zoology from the University of Salzburg (Austria), she leads the team at #Helferlab in their quest to understand how our brain impacts our eating habits and body weight, aiming to uncover new strategies for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Her academic journey took her to prestigious institutes such as the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Andechs (Germany), where she studied circadian rhythms in vertebrates. She then pursued a PhD at the University of Birmingham, UK, and conducted pioneering research on circadian rhythms in birds. As a postdoctoral fellow at the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health at the University of Aberdeen (UK), Gisela made groundbreaking discoveries on the molecular mechanisms regulating seasonal physiology and appetite regulation in the hypothalamus, uncovering a novel role for Vitamin A in the brain. Her sabbatical research visits at the Centre for Neuroendocrinology, University of Otago (NZ) and at the Department of Physiology, University of Toronto (Canada) further enriched her scientific journey. Now, as an Associate Professor in Physiology and Metabolism at the University of Bradford, she continues to lead cutting-edge research at #Helferlab, focusing on understanding brain-body interactions in health and disease.
Projects
Sweet cherries contain several antioxidants and polyphenols known for their wide range of health benefits, from fighting inflammation to protecting against oxidative stress.
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MCT oil supplements are gaining widespread attention for their potential in diabetes treatment, but the scientific evidence remains limited.
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This is a generic article you can use for adding article content / subjects on your website.
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Overweight and people with obesity have higher levels of a hormone called chemerin, which is produced by fat tissue.
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Naked mole-rats are exceptional creatures with many unique traits that make them an ideal model system to study healthy aging.
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#Helferlab group
From left: Katie Hanna, Haesung Yun, Junior Bowen, Gi Helfer, Francesca Mannocchio
Haesung Yun
PhD Student
Haesung studies chemerin signalling in the brain.
Junior Bowen
PhD student
Junior investigates how dopamine changes in the aging brain.
Previous #Helferlab members
Dr Katie Hanna
Former Post-doc
Katie studied circadian rhythms in hypothalamic tanycytes.
Dr Francesca Mannochio
Visiting PhD student
Francesca investigated the interplay between seasonal rhythms and the beneficial effects of polyphenols.
Publication list
Peer-reviewed publications
- Manocchio, F, Bravo, FI, Helfer, G* and Begona, M (2024) Cherries with different geographical origins regulate neuroprotection in a photoperiod-dependent manner in F344 rats. Antioxidants, 13(1): 72.
- Helfer, G., M. Kadmiel, and P.H. Jethwa, Editorial: Women in integrative physiology. Frontiers in Physiology, 2022. 13.
- Yun, H, Dumbell, R, Hanna, K, Bowen, J, McLean, SL, Kantamneni, S, Pors, K, Wu, QF and Helfer, G* (2022) The chemerin-CMKLR1 axis is functionally important for central regulation of energy homeostasis. Front Physiol, 30 May 2022.
- McLean, SL, Yun, H, Tedder, A and Helfer, G* (2021) The effect of photoperiod and high fat diet on the cognitive response in photoperiod-sensitive F344 rats. Physiol Behav, Oct 1 (239):113496.
- Mu, W, Li, S, Xu, J, Guo, X, Wu, H, Chen, Z, Qiao, L-Y, Helfer, G, Lu, F, Liu, C and Wu, QF (2021) Hypothalamic Rax+ tanycytes contribute to tissue repair and tumorigenesis upon oncogene activation in mice. Nat Comm, 12(1): 2288
- Helfer, G and Stevenson, TJ (2020) Pleiotropic effects of proopiomelanocortin and VGF nerve growth factor inducible neuropeptides for the long-term regulation of energy balance. Mol Cell Endocrinol, Aug 20 (514): 110876.
- Helfer, G* and Dumbell R (2020) Endocrine drivers of photoperiod response. Curr Opin Endocrine Metabol Res, 11 (4): 49-54.
- Helfer, G*, Barrett, P and Morgan, PJ (2019) A unifying hypothesis for control of body weight and reproduction in seasonally breeding mammals. J Neuroendocrinol, 31(3): e12680.
- Helfer, G and Wu QF (2018) Chemerin: a multifaceted adipokine involved in metabolic disorders. J Endocrinol, 238(3): R79-R94.
- Stoney, PN, Rodrigues, D, Helfer, G, Khatib, T, Ashton, A, Hay, EA, Starr, R, Kociszewska, D, Morgan, PJ and McCaffery, PJ (2017) A seasonal switch in histone deacetylase gene expression in the hypothalamus and their capacity to modulate nuclear signaling pathways. Brain Behav Immun, 61: 340-352.
- Helfer, G, Ross, AW, Thomson, LM, Mayer, CD, Stoney, PN, McCaffery, PJ and Morgan, PJ (2016) A neuroendocrine role for chemerin in hypothalamic remodelling and photoperiodic control of energy balance. Sci Rep 6: 26830.
- Helfer, G and Tups, A (2016) Hypothalamic Wnt signalling and its role in energy balance regulation. J Neuroendocrinol, 28(3): 12368.
- Bouscein, A, Benzler, J, Hempp, C, Stoehr, S, Helfer, G and Tups, A. (2016) Photoperiodic and diurnal regulation of WNT signalling in the arcuate nucleus of the female Djungarian hamster, Phodopus sungorus. Endocrinology, 157 (2): 799-809.
- Stoney, PN, Helfer, G, Rodrigues, D, Morgan, PJ and McCaffery, PJ (2016) Thyroid hormone activation of retinoic acid synthesis in hypothalamic tanycytes. Glia, 64(3): 425-439.
- Bolborea, M, Helfer, G, Ebling, FJP and Barrett, P (2015) Dual signal transduction pathways activated by TSH receptors in rat primary tanycyte cultures. J Mol Endocrinol, 54(3): 241-250.
- Ross, AW, Russell, L, Helfer, G, Thomson, LM, Dalby, M and Morgan, PJ. (2015) Photoperiod regulates lean mass accretion, but not adiposity, in growing F344 rats fed a high fat diet. PLoS One, 10(3): e0119763.
- Tavolaro, FM, Thomson, LM, Ross, AW, Morgan, PJ and Helfer, G* (2015) Photoperiodic effects on seasonal physiology, reproductive status and hypothalamic gene expression in young male F344 rats. J Neuroendocrinol, 27(2): 79-87.
- Helfer, G, Ross, AW and Morgan, PJ (2013) Neuromedin U partly mimics thyroid stimulating hormone and triggers Wnt/β-Catenin signalling in the photoperiodic response of F344 rats. J Neuroendocrinol, 25(12): 1264-1272.
- Helfer, G, Ross, AW, Russell, L, Thomson, LM, Shearer, KD, Goodman, TH, McCaffery, PJ and Morgan, PJ (2012) Photoperiod regulates vitamin A and Wnt/β-Catenin signalling in F344 rats. Endocrinology, 153(2): 815-824.
- Shearer, KD, Stoney, PN, Helfer, G, Ross, AW, Morgan, PJ and McCaffery, PJ (2012) Photoperiodic expression of two RALDH enzymes and the regulation of cell proliferation by retinoic acid in the rat hypothalamus. J Neurochem 122(4): 789-799.
- Jones, C, Helfer, G and Brandstaetter, R (2012) Melatonin receptor expression in the zebra finch brain and peripheral tissues. Chronobiol Int 29(2): 189-202.
- Ross, AW&, Helfer, G&, Russell, L, Darras, VM and Morgan, PJ (2011) Thyroid hormone signalling genes are regulated by photoperiod in the hypothalamus of F344 rats. PLoS One, 6 (6): e21351. &Authors contributed equally
- Helfer, G, Fidler, AE, Vallone, D, Foulkes, NS and Brandstaetter, R. (2006) Molecular analysis of clock gene expression in the avian brain. Chronobiol Int 23 (1-2): 113-127.
* corresponding author
Funding bodies
