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.